Reading and writing

• Proofreading- Is the final step in the editing process looking for superficial errors in spellings, grammar, syntax, formatting and punctuation.
• Spelling - commonly misspelled and/ or misused words will be discussed. The proper way to write a word, using the correct order of letters.
• Homophones - sound the same but different meanings and spelling.
• Punctuation mark - help us to make sense of what we read. Used to punctuate and separate elements of writing.
• full stop - is used at the end of a sentence. Every time you see a full stop, you must stop!
• Question Mark - To indicate a direct question when placed at the end of a sentence.
• Exclamation point - It is used to express strong feelings or emotions such as shock, surprise, anger or a. raised voice.
• Comma - are used to separate more than two elements in a list or series.
• Colon - Introduce lists, series, quotations, and explanations.
• Semicolon - Connect independent clauses- parts of the sentences that could stand as their own sentences.
• Ellipsis - to show an omission, or leaving out, of a word or words in a quote. Use ellipses to shorten the quote without changing the meaning.
• Apostrophe - Addressing someone absent, dead, or nonhuman as if that person or thing were present.
• Capitalization - the first letter of the first word of every sentence. You should capitalize all the proper nouns and pronoun adjectives.
• Abbreviation - are names of places such as countries, streets, and province, units of measurement, and titles. A shortened form of a word or phrase.
• Business Correspondence - Means the exchange of information in a written format for the process of business activities. Can take place between organization, within organizations or between the customers and the organization. The correspondence is generally of widely accepted formats that are followed universally.
• Business letters - are the most formal method of communication following specific formats. They are dressed to a particular person or organization.
• Business Memorandum - is a document used for internal communication within an organization. may be drafted by management and addressed to other employees.
• Business faxes - have been around even longer than memos, but for long time, very few people had access to fax machines.
• Business email - is considered as the reigning queen of business correspondence. It is probably even more important that business letter now a days though it does not substitute to them.    
• Sales letters - start off with a very strong statement  to capture the interest of the reader. Since the purpose is to get the reader to do something, these letters include strong calls to action, detail the benefit to the reader of taking the action and include information to help the reader to act, such as including a telephone number or website link.
• Order letters - are sent by consumers or businesses to a manufacturer, retailer or wholesaler to order goods or services. These letters must contain specific information such as model number, name of the product, the quantity desired and expected price. Payment is sometimes included with the letter.  
• Complaint Letters - the words and tone you choose in a letter complaining to a business may be the deciding factor on whether your complaint is satisfied. Be direct but tactful and always use a professional tone if you want the company to listen to you.
• Adjustment letters - is normally sent in response to a claim or complaint. If the adjustment is in costumer’s favour, begin the letter with the news. If not, keep your tone factual and let the customer know that you understand the complaint
• Inquiry letters - ask a question or elicit information from the recipient. When composing this type of letter, keep it clear and succinct and list exactly what information you need. Be sure to include your contact information so that is easy for the reader to respond.
• Follow-up letters - are usually sent after some type of initial communication. This could be a sales department thanking a customer for an order, a businessman reviewing the outcome of a meeting or job seeker inquiring about the status of his application. 
• Letters of recommendation - prospective employers often ask job applicants for _ before they hire them. This type of letter is usually  from a previous employer or professor, and it describes the sender’s relationship with and opinion of the job seeker.
• Acknowledgement letters - act as simple receipts. Businesses send them to let others know that they have received a prior communication, but action may or may not have taken place.
• Cover letters - usually accompany a package, report or other merchandise. They are used to describe what is enclosed, why is it being sent and what the recipient should do with it, there is any action that needs to be taken. These types of letters are generally very short and succinct.
• Letters of resignation - When the employee plans to leave his job, a letter off resignation is usually sent to his immediate manager giving him notice and letting him know when the last day of employment will be. In many cases, the employee will detail his reason for leaving the company. 
• Courteous - communication is friendly, open, and honest. There are no hidden insults or passive aggressive tones. You keep your readers viewpoint in mind, and you’re empathetic to their needs.
• Complete - message the audience has everything they need to be informed and, if applicable, take action. Does your message include a “ call to action.” so that your audience clearly knows what you want them to do?
• Coherent - it’s logical. All points are connected and relevant to the main topic, and the tone and flow of the text is consistent.
• Correction - when your communication is correct, it fits your audience. And correct communication is also error-free communication
• Concrete - when your message is concrete, the you audience has a clear picture of what you’re telling them. There are details (but not too many!) ad vivid facts, and there’s laser like focus. Your message is solid.
• Concise- stick to the point and keep it brief.
• Clear


  When writing or speaking to someone, be clear about your goal or message. What is your purpose in communicating with this person? If you’re not sure, then your audience won’t be sure either.
• Full-block style


  All the elements are aligned to the left margin and there are no indented lines. This is a standard block-style format that is accepted by most businesses.
• Modified block style


  the return address, date, closing and signature start just to the right of the center of the page or may be flush with the right margin. All body paragraphs begin at the left margin.
• Indented or semi-block style


  similar to the modified block business letter style except that the first line of each paragraph.
• Application letter


  job seekers frequently send a cover letter along with their curriculum vitae or applications for employment as a way of introducing themselves to potential employers and explaining their suitability for the desired positions.