1) Short words
Sometimes it is easier to use a short word when writing, especially in any exam. It is far better to finish all the work in the time limit than to waste 5 minutes searching for a great word you used in class many weeks ago.
It is also important to remember that it makes it easier to spell and for the reader to understand.
When you write, consider replacing the first word when you see the second (as below), it may help.
- about - approximately
- after - following the
- but - however
- enough - sufficient
- let - permit
- make - manufacture
- plant - facility
- set - establish
- show - demonstrate
- take part - participate
- use - utilise
2) Using too many or long words
Remember a spell checker will allow words even when they may be used in the wrong context.
It is nice to use new vocabulary, however examples of incorrect word use could ruin hours of effort when read by the reader.
Some examples :
- Avoid strike action - use - strike
- cutbacks - use - cuts
- track record - use - record
- large-scale - use - big
- the policymaking process - use - policymaking
- This time around - use - this time
3) Common Mistakes
- budgets can be cut - not - cut back
- companies can be bought and sold - not - bought up and sold off
- organisations should be headed by - not - headed up by chairmen
- markets should be freed - not- freed up
- training - not trainings
4) Reduce the words in sentences
Read what you have written, can you reduce the word count in any way to make it more concise?
- A top priority is usually just a priority
- A major speech is just a speech
- Most probably and most especially are just probably and especially
- The business community just means businessmen
- The international community, if it means anything, means other countries, and aid agencies
Example
The bank loans to the industrial and medical sectors could be written as "the bank loans to industry and medicine".
5) Beware your spell checker
Spell-check programs are useful for catching errors and misspelled words, but they don't always work as we all know.
Pay particular attention to homonyms -- words that have similar pronunciations, but different spellings and meanings. To look at a larger word list of commonly made mistakes, please use this link
- you're | your
- they're | their | there
- its | it's
- except | accept
- alot | a lot
- no | know
- weak | week
- to | too | two
- who's | whose
- hear | here
- forth | fourth
- buy | by
Writing Tips
For more information on Business English Skills or Cambridge BEC classes please telephone:
Rose Nassif Travers on (+41) 044 302 7838
or
Source :The Economist
Example and Use
It will take about three months to build.
It will take approximately three months to build a prototype.
We will let them have access to our network.
IT will only permit them access to our visitor LAN.
At the meeting we will show them our samples and their use as an anti-vibration material.
At the meeting we will demonstrate our anti-vibration products and discuss their application in the client product range.
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