Which of the following is most acceptable for business writing?
Question 9 options:
Please think about the new insurance option.
Caltrek experienced a change in profits during the last fiscal year.
Retailers can expect to pay higher amounts for their goods and services.
Sheila will examine the job proposal carefully.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The most acceptable sentence for business writing is:
“Caltrek experienced a change in profits during the last fiscal year.”
Explanation:
Effective business writing requires clarity, professionalism, and conciseness. The goal is to convey information in a way that is easy to understand and appropriate for a formal setting. Let’s examine why the correct option is best and why the others are less appropriate:
✅ Correct Answer: “Caltrek experienced a change in profits during the last fiscal year.”
This sentence is objective, concise, and uses professional tone. It reports a factual situation without ambiguity or informality. “Experienced a change in profits” is a neutral phrase appropriate for business reports, allowing further elaboration if needed in a longer document or discussion. It avoids vague or overly emotional language, sticking to data-driven communication.
❌ Incorrect Options:
- “Please think about the new insurance option.”
- Issue: Too informal and vague.
- It lacks specificity and action. Business writing often prefers clear calls to action such as “Please review the new insurance option and provide feedback by Friday.”
- “Retailers can expect to p ay higher amounts for their goods and services.”
- Issue: Contains a typographical error (“p ay” instead of “pay”), which reflects poorly on professionalism.
- Also, “higher amounts” is vague—specific figures or percentages would be better in business contexts.
- “Sheila will examine the job proposal carefully.”
- Issue: While grammatically correct, it is slightly informal and centered on an individual rather than on broader business actions or results.
- A better version would be: “The job proposal will be reviewed by Sheila to ensure alignment with company objectives.”
Summary:
The correct choice maintains an appropriate business tone, avoids errors, and communicates a factual statement clearly. Precision, professionalism, and clarity are the cornerstones of effective business communication.