MOST COMMON ERRORS IN BUSINESS WRITING

BY HIRA NOOR

CONTENTS• Introduction• Common errors: ColloquialismPossessive form and

contractionsssss En-dash and hyphenMore than and overDated Using wordy expressions• Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

• Most of the errors in business writing are grammatical.

• Errors leave bad impression on the reader.

• They raise doubts about the person’s professionalism.

COLLOQUIALISM

• Use of informal phrases in business writing is a major error.

Ex:

Mr.brown kicked the bucket on x day.

Mr. Brown died on x day.

EN-Dash and Hyphen

• It has been observed that many writers don’t differentiate between En-dash(–) and hyphen(-).

• EX:

En-Dash Hyphen

Cost–benefit analysis Quaid-e-Azam

Part C–E blue-green

DATED

• Writing Dated on is incorrect but is used commonly.

• Ex:

Thank you for writing the letter dated on 17-March-2010. (Incorrect)

Thank you for writing the letter dated 17-March-2010. (correct)

Over and More Than• The word over is used for describing a

physical position.

Ex:

The bridge led over

the pond.

• Wrong usage:

Over 50 males participated in the race.• Correction:

More than 50 males participated in the race.

Possessive form and contractions

• The possessive form of it   is often mixed with its contraction.

• Its possessive form of it• It’s Contraction for it is

EX:

When is our next meeting.Please confirm its date. ( )

When is our next meeting.Please confirm it’s date.( )

Using Wordy Expressions

• When wordy expressions are used, the true message entangles in the heavy traffic of words and the reader can’t interpret the right meaning.

• It will make you feel

just like this fish which has

trapped its body (message) in net

by itself (words).

Wordy Expressions

• Using wordy expressions when a small one can do, is another common mistake.

EX:

Due to the fact that she was attending the

meeting…

Or

Since she was attending the meeting…

CONCLUSION

Small mistake! Funny for you! Big embarrassment for the one who made it! Don’t let small mistakes make big impact on your customer!