Answer to Question 1
a. Be complete. A message must contain all details that the reader needs to make a decision or to respond. For example, leaving out a deadline date might result in a shipment being too late to be useful.
b. Use familiar words. The reader must be able to understand the message in order to act on it. The words used should be familiar to you and your reader. For example, a reader will more easily understand tranquil than halcyon.
c. Use specific, concrete language. Avoid abstraction and ambiguity. Choose specific words that create a definite picture in your reader's mind.
d. Avoid dangling expressions. Each segment of a sentence must be positioned appropriately; otherwise, a dangling expression exists that may confuse the reader. For example, anyone reading the sentence Beth was supposed to present the award to Dionne, but she wasn't at the assembly will wonder whether Beth or Dionne was absent.
e. Avoid clichs, slang, and unnecessary jargon. Clichs become monotonous with overuse. Slang is informal, short-lived, and often identifiable only within a specific group. Never use jargon when writing to suppliers, customers, and other people who may not understand it. Remember that the same term may mean different things to different groups of people. The term CD refers to a computer component, a compact disc to music buffs, and a certificate of deposit to bankers.
Answer to Question 2
a. Please call Mr. Becker to confirm his February 28 appointment. (February has only 28 days, 29 in leap years.)
b. After reviewing the sales reports, Jeremy corrected the errors. (The errors did not review the sales reports; a person did. Insert the name of a person.)
c. Bob needs to confirm the budget with Dan, but Dan is out of town until next week. (The antecedent of he is not clear in the original sentence.)