Bull's Eye Business Writing TipsTip #416: Transitional devices...These
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Tip #416: Transitional devices are words or phrases that help carry a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another. And finally, transitional devices link sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so that there are no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas. Here is a list of some common transitional devices that can be used to cue readers: (See Purdue University Writing Lab) To Add: and, again, and then, besides, equally important, finally, further, furthermore, nor, too, next, lastly, what's more, moreover, in addition, first (second, etc.) To Compare: whereas, but, yet, on the other hand, however, nevertheless, on the other hand, on the contrary, by comparison, where, compared to, up against, balanced against, vis a vis, but, although, conversely, meanwhile, after all, in contrast, although this may be true. |
Weekly Exercise:
We receive over 200 emails per day. We encourage you to answer our weekly tips, but please, if you are answering this weekly tip exercise, identify the tip number in the subject line of your email.
Which sentence is clearer and why?
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Because of the growing use of computers to store and process corporate information, industrial spying is increasing rapidly.
- Industrial spying, because of the growing use of computers to store and process corporate information, is increasing rapidly.
Comments regarding Tip #415:
Aseye Kpodo: I think that the use of words such as "honestly", "frankly" is often abused. A great number of people use them when trying to persuade their listeners to believe a half truth or lie. However, they are sometimes used well and are thus necessary.
Jeanne Levrier : Quite frankly, I prefer the use of all three examples. Perhaps, Mr. Kirkpatrick is not in the best of company. I do detest the use of the following "new age" type words:
1. closure (as in "the family will get closure", "Main Street has closure" or some such nonsense when a newscaster wants to tell the audience that a road is temporarily closed for use. A family getting "closure" on the untimely death of a family member is such nonsense. One definition of closure: A device or assembly for closing an opening through a fire separation, or exterior wall such as a door, shutter, glass block, and includes all components such as hardware, closing devices, frames and anchors.
2. significant other - Used to dignify an undignified relationship such as a person that is not a husband, wife, fiancée, and in polite society would be embarrassing and inappropriate.
Nick St. Amant: I agree that some words can be 'candy,' but we can't ignore the richness of American English. How about when Rhett Butler said to Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind, "Frankly Scarlett, I don't give a damn." Without the "frankly" it would lose most of it's punch. Granted, you need to be judicious with all modifiers, but they have their place. As an aside, when I write a letter or memo, on revision I usually take out such words as 'all,' 'really,' 'very, ''frankly,' and the like. But my first draft always contains them, because if I worried about he exact words, I'd not get my thoughts down.
Quote of the week:
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All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsion, habit, reason, passion, and desire. (Aristotle , 384 BC - 322 BC) |
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Answers to this week's quiz: clear (subordinate clause at the beginning): Because of the growing use of computers to store and process corporate information, industrial spying is increasing rapidly. not as clear (subordinate clause embedded in the middle): Industrial spying, because of the growing use of computers to store and process corporate information, is increasing rapidly. |
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To send the above exercise answers to Gloria for her comments and review, copy the questions, paste them into an email, answer them, and send to Marsha@basic-learning.com.
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These business writing tips brought to you by:
Bull's Eye Business Writing
10 Easy Guides for Getting to Your Writing Target
By Gloria Pincu, M.A. , President of Basic Learning Systems, Inc.
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