WorkKeys Business Writing 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which subject line is most appropriate for an email requesting a schedule change?
- Need to Talk
- Request to Change My Schedule — Week of March 15 (Correct answer)
- URGENT: Schedule Problem
- Hey, About My Schedule
Correct answer: Request to Change My Schedule — Week of March 15
A professional subject line is specific and informative. Option B clearly states the purpose and relevant time period.
Question 2: An employee writes: "The meeting was bad and nobody liked it." Which revision is most professional for a workplace report?
- The meeting was not good.
- The meeting received negative feedback from several attendees. (Correct answer)
- People hated the meeting.
- The meeting went poorly.
Correct answer: The meeting received negative feedback from several attendees.
Professional writing avoids vague and emotional language. Option B uses objective, formal phrasing.
Question 3: Which sentence uses correct grammar for a business email?
- Please send the report to Dave and I by Friday.
- Please send the report to Dave and me by Friday. (Correct answer)
- Please send the report to Dave and myself by Friday.
- Please send the report to myself by Friday.
Correct answer: Please send the report to Dave and me by Friday.
"Me" is the correct object pronoun after the preposition "to." Test: "send it to me" — not "to I."
Question 4: Which is the most professional closing for a business letter?
- Later!
- Thanks a million,
- Sincerely, (Correct answer)
- See ya,
Correct answer: Sincerely,
"Sincerely," is the standard professional closing for formal business correspondence.
Question 5: An employee writes: "I want to complain about always being assigned the worst tasks." What is the best professional revision?
- I never get good assignments and it is unfair.
- I would like to discuss a more equitable distribution of task assignments. (Correct answer)
- My tasks are always the worst ones.
- Other people get better tasks than me.
Correct answer: I would like to discuss a more equitable distribution of task assignments.
Option B reframes the complaint constructively using neutral, solution-focused language.
Question 6: A memo should open with which element?
- A personal greeting
- A clear statement of purpose (Correct answer)
- A lengthy background story
- A list of job titles
Correct answer: A clear statement of purpose
Effective memos open with a clear statement of purpose so the reader immediately understands why they are reading it.
WorkKeys Business Writing 2
Which subject line is most appropriate for an email requesting a schedule change?