Section Viii 01-02

SECTION VIII AWARENESS OF LANGUAGE ACCURACY =============================================================

Pay special attention to your language accuracy. Proofread every part of your work (inlcuding your appendices) carefully several times before sending it off for printing. Nothing can be more frustrating to see a manual full of grammatical, vocabulary and style mistakes. Language inaccuracies can tarnish the professional image that you try to build for your manual. Be a professional writer; proofread carefully. (Refer to the Task File below for some common mistakes committed in works by students in previous years. See if you can spot and correct them all. Avoid making them in your own work.) Section VIII -- Tasks File Task 1 Use of articles Proofread the following paragraphs for mistakes of articles. 1. Welcome to the Microsoft Excel. Excel is the advanced spreadsheet product for IBM PC/AT or PS/2 compatibles that support worksheet, graphic, and presentation features. 2. (A step from a set of instructions) Repeat the Steps 1 to 5. 3. Click File menu. (A step from a set of instructions) 4. Refer to the Diagram 5. (a graphic call-out) 5. Use the ScanJet Plus scanner directly with a software that has its own built-in scanning capability. (from the Foreword of a manual) 6. Choose the Option 1. (a step) 7. Open a document to import your pictures. (a step) 8. The modems are devices used to convert ….for communication between the two computers. ( A definition)

Task 2 Syntax errors (Run-on sentences, incomplete sentences, etc.) Proofread the following sentences. 1. The appearance of a worksheet is very important, it helps to convey your ideas and information in your worksheet effectively and impressively. 2. In this chapter, the formatting basics and formatting controls that will be introduced.

Task 3 ‘Ing’ vs ‘ed’ forms Choose the correct form in the following sentences. 1. To follow the steps below, make sure you working in an (opening, opened) document. 2. Now, move the (blocking, blocked) area to the (desiring, desired) place. 3. X is an (exciting, excited) program. You will be (fascinating, fascinated) by its…

Task 4 Formal vs informal language Decide which of the following is a formal option for use in written documents. 1. We assume that you know how to (get into, enter, gain access to) the Staff LAN. 2. Polylink provides different electronic communication functions, (say, such as, for example, including), the Bulletin Board, …. 3. The program provides (lots of, a lot of, many) different features to…

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4. (Grab, Obtain, Get) an application form from the CSC services counter.

Task 5 Miscellaneous Proofread the grammatical mistakes in the following sentences. 1. Polylink is the electronic communication system provided by the Computer Services Centre of City University of Hong Kong. It is one of the function available through Citylink. (2 mistakes) 2. This manual assumes that you have satisfied all the software and hardware requirement as specify below. (2 mistakes) 3. The prompt will be disappeared. (1 mistake) 4. The sign means the file will be saved when quitting it. (1 mistake) 5. Save the file in the disc. (1 mistake) 6. You can also format paragraphs by the Format Menu in the toolbar. (2 mistakes) 7. Enter into the windows environment. (1 mistake) 8. In this manual, it shows you how to ….(1 long mistake) 9. In the Chapter 1, it mainly describes how to get into MS Excel. (1 long mistake) 10. According to the instructions in Chapter 1, it says that you can…. (1 long mistake 11. Forwarding addresses set-up is the function of Polylink for the users to forward the mails received to the address set-up automatically. (4-5 mistakes) 12. Word 6 is a simple and convenient program that you can handle it with no problem. (1 mistake). 13. The dialogue box displayed. (1 mistake) 14. This chapter will teach you to enter data and show you to …(2 mistakes of the same kind)

Task 6 Where are they? (Use of prepositions) You will be presented an OHT showing some essential elements found in a Word screen. Write a sentence to describe the position of each of the elements listed below. • • • • • • • •

the window minimizing button the page number of the current section the current line number the document name the tool bar the File menu button the scroll bar the group of Cut and Paste buttons

Task 7 Proofreading your work Proofread your first draft by • Using the error symbol sheet provided on p.IV-6 • Checking to see if you have made any mistakes discussed in this section

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