TECHNICAL WRITING
December 10, 2013
Today
Improving Writing Clarity:
- Pronoun reference
Word Choice (WC) Error Exercises
1. If you keep the current catered operation, your contribution margin after
taxes will be $12,000.
2. Since you have decided not to hire more employees, your current
employees will have to work longer hours.
3. The balance sheet disclosures any change in owner’s assets and
liabilities.
4. Economists recognize that government actions can effect both the
allocation of resources and the distribution of income.
5. We provide a range of accountant’s services.
6. SND and Vardizon both spend billions to be competitively in the
broadband era.
7. Such a big accounts receivable could force a small firm out of business.
8. We wish a high rate of return from the new investments.
9. During the years, the company has earned other awards, such as the
Most Reliable Airline by Forbes and Most Admired Airline by Fortune
magazine.
10. When the corporate issued stock, investors sped to purchase its
shares.
Word Choice (WC) Error Exercises
1. If you keep the current catered operation, your
contribution margin after taxes will be $12,000.

If you maintain the current catering operation, your
contribution margin after taxes will be $12,000.
Word Choice (WC) Error Exercises
2. Since you have decided not to hire more employees,
your current employees will have to work longer hours.
 Because you have decided not to hire more employees,
your current employees will have to work longer hours.
Word Choice (WC) Error Exercises
3. The balance sheet disclosures any change in owner’s
assets and liabilities.

The balance sheet discloses any change in owner’s
assets and liabilities.
Word Choice (WC) Error Exercises
4. Economists recognize that government actions can
effect both the allocation of resources and the distribution
of income.

Economists recognize that government actions can affect
both the allocation of resources and the distribution of
income.
Word Choice (WC) Error Exercises
5. We provide a range of accountant’s services.

We provide a range of accounting services.
Word Choice (WC) Error Exercises
6. SND and Vardizon both spend billions to be
competitively in the broadband era.

SND and Vardizon both spend billions to stay competitive
in the broadband era.
Word Choice (WC) Error Exercises
7. Such a big accounts receivable could force a small firm
out of business.

Such a high accounts receivable could force a small firm
out of business.
Word Choice (WC) Error Exercises
8. We wish a high rate of return from the new investments.

We expect a high rate of return from the new investments.
Word Choice (WC) Error Exercises
9. During the years, the company has earned other awards,
such as the Most Reliable Airline by Forbes and Most
Admired Airline by Fortune magazine.

Over the years, the company has earned other awards,
such as the Most Reliable Airline from Forbes and Most
Admired Airline and from Fortune magazine.
Word Choice (WC) Error Exercises
10. When the corporate issued stock, investors sped to
purchase its shares.

When the corporation issued stock, investors hurried to
purchase its shares.
Preposition Error Exercises
1. We view this transaction as a passive investment in which IBL has no significant
influence of Corpus Corporation.
2. Flying Ventures differs from that it generally recognizes revenue on delivered
multi-element contracts when delivery is probable even if a refund results by failure
to deliver the remaining elements.
3. She did not gain any profit from her friend and the other workers by altering the
company’s annual sales estimates.
4. PDT needs to have access for software experts who can write the integrations,
which will cost money and time with training and acquiring the manpower.
5. To solve this problem, we chose to create a balance sheet and income statement
of both Ivan and Igor.
6. The auditor also believed that the statements were on accordance with the
generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
7. Both of these results hinder our ability to provide a clean audit and full assurance
in regard to management’s assertion on average income.
8. This plan entails many advantages to your corporation.
9. His company fired him because he failed to investigate about his client’s
business situation.
10. The company should educate investors in its application of the derivatives
portfolio.
Preposition Error Exercises
1. We view this transaction as a passive investment in which IBL has no significant
influence over Corpus Corporation.
2. Flying Ventures differs in that it generally recognizes revenue on delivered multielement contracts when delivery is probable even if a refund results from failure to
deliver the remaining elements.
3. She did not gain any profit for her friend and the other workers by altering the
company’s annual sales estimates.
4. PDT needs to have access for software experts who can write the integrations,
which will cost money and time for training and acquiring the manpower.
5. To solve this problem, we chose to create a balance sheet and income statement
for both Ivan and Igor.
6. The auditor also believed that the statements were in accordance with the
generally accepted accounting principles of the United States.
7. Both of these results hinder our ability to provide a clean audit and full assurance
with regard to management’s assertion about average income.
8. This plan entails many advantages for your corporation.
9. His company fired him because he failed to investigate <DELETE> his client’s
business situation.
10. The company should educate investors about its application of the derivatives
portfolio.
Preposition Error Exercises
1. We view this transaction as a passive investment in
which IBL has no significant influence over Corpus
Corporation.
Preposition Error Exercises
2. Flying Ventures differs in that it generally recognizes
revenue on delivered multi-element contracts when delivery
is probable even if a refund results from failure to deliver
the remaining elements.
Preposition Error Exercises
3. She did not gain any profit for her friend and the other
workers by altering the company’s annual sales estimates.
Preposition Error Exercises
4. PDT needs to have access for software experts who can
write the integrations, which will cost money and time for
training and acquiring the manpower.
Preposition Error Exercises
5. To solve this problem, we chose to create a balance
sheet and income statement for both Ivan and Igor.
Preposition Error Exercises
6. The auditor also believed that the statements were in
accordance with the generally accepted accounting
principles of the United States.
Preposition Error Exercises
7. Both of these results hinder our ability to provide a clean
audit and full assurance with regard to management’s
assertion about average income.
Preposition Error Exercises
8. This plan entails many advantages for your corporation.
Preposition Error Exercises
9. His company fired him because he failed to investigate
<DELETE> his client’s business situation.
Preposition Error Exercises
10. The company should educate investors about its
application of the derivatives portfolio.
Preposition Error Exercises
1. We view this transaction as a passive investment in which IBL has no significant
influence over Corpus Corporation.
2. Flying Ventures differs in that it generally recognizes revenue on delivered multielement contracts when delivery is probable even if a refund results from failure to
deliver the remaining elements.
3. She did not gain any profit for her friend and the other workers by altering the
company’s annual sales estimates.
4. PDT needs to have access for software experts who can write the integrations,
which will cost money and time for training and acquiring the manpower.
5. To solve this problem, we chose to create a balance sheet and income statement
for both Ivan and Igor.
6. The auditor also believed that the statements were in accordance with the
generally accepted accounting principles of the United States.
7. Both of these results hinder our ability to provide a clean audit and full assurance
with regard to management’s assertion about average income.
8. This plan entails many advantages for your corporation.
9. His company fired him because he failed to investigate <DELETE> his client’s
business situation.
10. The company should educate investors about its application of the derivatives
portfolio.
Pronouns
I, he, she, they, us, them, which…
Terms to keep in mind
Pronoun = a part of language that substitutes for nouns or
noun phrases.
i.e., it, she, he, they, mine, yours, we, them…
Antecedent = the word or phrase to which a pronoun refers.
i.e., Debbie told Andrew that she was sick.
Pronouns
I, he, she, they, us, them, which…
- Often, a pronoun’s antecedent is clear.
i.e., James and Jane love golfing. They often go to the golf
course together.
John Adams was a great, but misunderstood man. He
was greatly influential in early American politics.
However, …
Read these sentences
To prevent children from sucking their thumbs, some parents put
them in Tabasco sauce.
Pearl Buck received much critical praise for her work and earned
over $7 million, but she was very modest about it.
Bill bought a Norwegian boat because he had heard that they
make the best boats.
After Jack put his computer on the table, it broke.
At a local restaurant, they provide each table with a bowl of
peanuts.
Read these sentences
To prevent children from sucking their thumbs, some parents put
them in Tabasco sauce.
Pearl Buck received much critical praise for her work and earned
over $7 million, but she was very modest about it.
Bill bought a Norwegian boat because he had heard that they
make the best boats.
After Jack put his computer on the table, it broke.
At a local restaurant, they provide each table with a bowl of
peanuts.
Pronoun reference errors
When the antecedent in a sentence or paragraph is
unclear, the meaning of the sentence or paragraph can be
confusing.
This problem negatively affects writing clarity & coherence.
 remember, avoid confusing your reader!
Rule for pronoun reference
A pronoun must clearly refer to a single antecedent. Avoid
ambiguous, remote, or broad pronoun reference.
Unclear (broad): Miniprosystems Inc. recognized unearned
revenue due to the undelivered items over the related
product’s life cycle. According to SOP 97-2, this is not
appropriate.
More concise: According to SOP 97-2, Miniprosystems
Inc. should not have recognized unearned revenue due
to the undelivered items over the related product’s life
cycle.
Pronoun reference errors
To prevent children from sucking their thumbs, some
parents put them in Tabasco sauce.
- The children or the thumbs?
Jack told Frank he wasn’t going to get the job.
- Who wasn’t going to get the job? Jack or Frank?
Correcting pronoun reference errors
1. Make sure all pronouns have one clear antecedent. If
one pronoun may refer to more than one antecedent,
revise the passage by replacing some pronouns with
nouns.
Unclear : The founders informed their employees that they
made unwise investment decisions.
More precise: The founders informed their employees that
the company made unwise investment decisions.
Correcting pronoun reference errors
1. Make sure all pronouns have one clear antecedent. If
one pronoun may refer to more than one antecedent,
revise the passage by replacing some pronouns with
nouns.
Unclear : The manager failed to close a million-dollar deal.
After what he did, they should ask him to resign from the
company.
More precise: The manager failed to close a million-dollar
deal. After what he did, the founders should ask him to
resign from the company.
Correcting pronoun reference errors
2. To avoid ambiguous references, change a demonstrative
pronoun (this, that, these, those) into a demonstrative
adjective by adding the antecedent.
Ambiguous : Many developing countries impose
restrictions on foreign currency transactions. These often
take the form of government licensing requirements.
More precise: Many developing countries impose
restrictions on foreign currency transactions. These
restrictions often take the form of government licensing
require.
Correcting pronoun reference errors
3. Recover a demonstrative pronoun's antecedent.
a) Repetition (restate the antecedent)
Ambiguous : Your company’s compensation plan will motivate
managers to focus on manufacturing high quality products
because it stipulates a 1 percent bonus on gross profit margin. A
disadvantage of this is that managers will not make any efforts
to reduce expenses.
More precise: Your company’s compensation plan will motivate
managers to focus on manufacturing high-quality products
because it stipulates a 1 percent bonus on gross profit margin. A
disadvantage of this compensation plan is that managers will
not make any efforts to reduce expenses.
Correcting pronoun reference errors
3. Recover a demonstrative pronoun's antecedent.
b) use a synonym (in substitute for the antecedent)
Ambiguous : Stuff Ltd.’s stock has witnessed a 24.6
percent decline in share price since April 1993. The
investors’ concern over the derivatives portfolio has caused
this.
More precise: Stuff Ltd.’s stock has witnessed a 24.6
percent decline in share price since April 1993. The
investors’ concern over the derivatives portfolio has caused
this fall.
Correcting pronoun reference errors
3. Recover a demonstrative pronoun's antecedent.
c) use a synonym (in substitute for the antecedent)
Ambiguous : Most companies use accrual accounting
because it helps them understand the true causes and
effects of business activities. This provides better matching
between revenues and their associated costs.
More precise: Most companies use accrual accounting
because it helps them understand the true causes and
effects of business activities. This method provides better
matching between revenues and their associated costs.
Correcting pronoun reference errors
3. Recover a demonstrative pronoun's antecedent.
d) use a paraphrase (restates a word or phrase with
several words)
Ambiguous : In 2002, even though the firm’s overhead
increased by 10 percent, its profits rose by 12 percent.
This is attributable to the company’s new marketing
strategy.
More precise: In 2002, even though the firm’s overhead
increased by 10 percent, its profits rose by 12 percent.
This increase in profits is attributable to the company’s
new marketing strategy
Correcting pronoun reference errors
4. When a pronoun refers to an entire idea or sentence, to
make the reference more precise, replace the pronoun with
a noun, or supply a noun or noun phrase that recovers the
antecedent.
Ambiguous : A company must use the same accounting
standard for a similar event. However, this does not mean
that the company cannot change its accounting standard.
More precise: A company must use the same accounting
standard for a similar event. However, this requirement
does not mean that the company cannot change its
accounting standard
Correcting pronoun reference errors
5. Replace a faulty or ambiguous pronoun with its
antecedent or with a paraphrase of the antecedent.
Faulty : Susan likes to analyze accounting documents.
That will be her major.
More precise: Susan likes to analyze accounting
documents. Accounting will be her major.
Correcting pronoun reference errors
5. Replace a faulty or ambiguous pronoun with its
antecedent or with a paraphrase of the antecedent.
Ambiguous : John did not read the review. He is not
interested in this.
More precise: John did not read the review. He is not
interested in other people’s opinions.
Correcting pronoun reference errors
6. Ensure that you use who, which, and that correctly.
Who – refers to people or animals with names
Which/That – refers to animals, things, and collective
groups of people.
Faulty : Susan Smith, which has served as the vice
president of the company for 20 years, has recently passed
away.
More precise: Susan Smith, who has served as the vice
president of the company for 20 years, has recently passed
away.
Correcting pronoun reference errors
7. Avoid using “it” as an expletive (a word that postpones
the subject) whenever possible.
Wordy : It has become increasingly clear that pollution is
damaging the environment.
More precise: Pollution is clearly damaging the
environment.
Correcting pronoun reference errors
8. Avoid the indefinite use of they, it, and you; this use often
makes wordy phrases.
Wordy : In the report it states that the company will store
gold when market prices are low.
More precise: The report states that the company will
store gold when market prices are low.
Correcting pronoun reference errors
9. In general, avoid pronouns whose reference is unclear or
is too remote (distant).
Remote : Bank of Tokyo is willing to serve as an
intermediary between you and your borrower because it
hopes to earn a profit from this.
More precise: Bank of Tokyo is willing to serve as an
intermediary between you and your borrower because it
hopes to earn a profit from this service.
Read these sentences
To prevent children from sucking their thumbs, some parents put
them in Tabasco sauce.
Pearl Buck received much critical praise for her work and earned
over $7 million, but she was very modest about it.
Bill bought a Norwegian boat because he had heard that they
make the best boats.
After jack put his computer on the table, it broke.
At a local restaurant, they provide each table with a bowl of
peanuts.
Practice Exercises