Transcript Sample PowerPoint Slides - Business Writing Center

Writing Clear Business Reports
Use Lists and Format Them to
Make Them Clear and Correct
Th e B u s i n e s s W r i t i n g C e n t e r
http://businesswriting.com
1-800-827-3770
Copyright © The Business Writing Center, 2015
Format Lists to
Make Them Clear
Some new features make Advertising Wizard an
effective tool for monitoring marketing campaigns. The
program provides the flexibility to adjust a campaign
using report results. They can be run daily, weekly, or
monthly. Advertising Wizard’s user interface allows the user
to make changes to the strategy in the middle of a campaign.
Users with little trafficking experience can quickly
understand where information is located. When a user is
ready to use some of the more advanced tools, the
support team offers online training classes, a robust
knowledge base for self-training, and manuals with
advanced training.
Format Lists to
Make Them Clear
• Break out all lists unless you
have a good reason not to.
• If the list is short, you may
keep the list in a sentence.
• Break out a list rather than
use semicolons between
items of a list in a
paragraph.
• Write an introduction
stating what is in the list.
• Write a key-term name.
• Write the exact number of
items.
Four new features make Advertising Wizard an effective tool for
monitoring marketing campaigns.
1.
A new reporting capability. The program provides the
flexibility to adjust a campaign using report results. They can
be run daily, weekly, or monthly.
2.
User interface that monitors campaigns. Advertising Wizard’s
user interface allows the user to make changes to the strategy in the
middle of a campaign.
3.
Quick, searchable references for immediate help. Users with
little trafficking experience can quickly understand where
information is located.
4.
Advanced training. When a user is ready to use some of the
more advanced tools, the support team offers the following
advanced training:
• Online training classes
• A robust knowledge base for self-training
• Manuals with advanced training
o
o
Online manuals
Printed manuals
Format Lists to
Make Them Clear
• Use bullets, numbers, or
ordinals.
• Use filled circles, not fancy
bullets.
• For lists within lists, use
hollow circles.
Four new features make Advertising Wizard an effective tool for
monitoring marketing campaigns.
1.
A new reporting capability. The program provides the
flexibility to adjust a campaign using report results. They can
be run daily, weekly, or monthly.
2.
User interface that monitors campaigns. Advertising Wizard’s
user interface allows the user to make changes to the strategy in the
middle of a campaign.
3.
Quick, searchable references for immediate help. Users with
little trafficking experience can quickly understand where
information is located.
4.
Advanced training. When a user is ready to use some of the
more advanced tools, the support team offers the following
advanced training:
• Indent the items for second
and third lists.
• Break with white space
before and after longer items.
• Bold a key term or phrase.
• Keep the bullet or number
one or two spaces from the
text.
• Online training classes
• A robust knowledge base for self-training
• Manuals with advanced training
o
o
Online manuals
Printed manuals
Use Correct
List Punctuation
Format 1: Complete sentences
• Make all items complete
sentences.
• Check for subjects and
verbs.
• Use a colon at the end of
the introduction.
• Capitalize first words.
• Use periods at the ends of
items.
Subject
Verb
The consultant performed three actions:
Acceptable punctuation for
1. She presented documentation with the software.
numbered and bulleted lists
2. She explained recommendations for the sales force.
Verb
Subject
3. She introduced a program based on the software.
Subject
Verb
Use Correct
List Punctuation
Format 2: Topics
• Make none of the items
complete sentences.
• Use a colon at the end of
the introduction.
• Capitalize the first words.
• Use no punctuation at the
ends of the items.
The consultant performed three actions:
1. Presented documentation with the software
2. Explained recommendations for the sales force
3. Introduced a program based on the software
Use Correct
List Punctuation
Format 3: Topics flowing like a
sentence
• Make none of the items
complete sentences.
• Use no colon at the end of
the introduction.
• Do not capitalize the first
words.
• Use no punctuation at the
ends of the items.
The consultant
1. presented documentation with the software
2. explained recommendations for the sales force
3. introduced a program based on the software
Use Correct
List Punctuation
Format 4: Make the list a sentence
• Make no single items sentences.
• Use no colon at the end of the
introduction.
• Choose whether to capitalize
the first words.
• Put commas or semicolons at
the ends of items except the
last item.
• Put “and” in the next-to-the-last
item if you are using commas.
Do not put “and” there if you
are using semicolons.
• Put a period at the end of the
last item.
List with commas at the ends of the lines
The consultant
1. Presented documentation with the software,
2. Explained recommendations for the sales force, and
3. Introduced a program based on the software.
List with semicolons at the ends of the lines
The consultant
1. Presented documentation with the software;
2. Explained recommendations for the sales force;
3. Introduced a program based on the software.