Business Communication Flashcards
7 cards from real COA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Business Communication flashcards as text
Which proofreading technique involves reading a document backward, word by word, to catch spelling errors?
Answer: Reverse reading
Reverse reading disrupts the brain's tendency to auto-correct familiar text, making individual spelling errors easier to spot.
In a professional presentation, the '10-20-30 rule' proposed by Guy Kawasaki recommends:
Answer: 10 slides, 20 minutes, 30-point minimum font size
Kawasaki's 10-20-30 rule limits presentations to 10 slides, 20 minutes, and a 30-point font to keep audiences engaged and content digestible.
Which of the following is the correct way to handle a confidential document that must be faxed?
Answer: Call the recipient first to confirm they are at the fax machine, then send
Calling ahead ensures the confidential document is received directly by the intended recipient rather than sitting in an unattended fax tray.
What does 'parallelism' mean in the context of business writing?
Answer: Expressing similar ideas in grammatically consistent forms within a list or series
Parallelism requires that items in a list or series use the same grammatical structure (e.g., all verbs or all noun phrases) for clarity and professionalism.
When writing a negative message—such as denying a request—which approach is generally recommended for business correspondence?
Answer: Indirect approach: buffer with neutral information before delivering the bad news
The indirect approach uses a neutral buffer opening, then explains the reasons before stating the refusal, softening the impact and maintaining goodwill.
Which format is MOST appropriate for communicating a routine policy update to all 200 employees in an organization?
Answer: A mass email or company-wide memo
A company-wide email or memo efficiently reaches all employees simultaneously, creates a written record, and is appropriate for routine internal communication.
What is the purpose of using 'white space' in a business document?
Answer: To improve readability by preventing the page from appearing cluttered
White space (margins, line spacing, paragraph breaks) guides the reader's eye, reduces visual fatigue, and makes documents easier to navigate.