10 th edition, © 2011, cengage learning chapter 1 reference skills

10th Edition, © 2011, Cengage Learning

Chapter 1

Reference Skills

OrientationOrientationHow to Study Business How to Study Business EnglishEnglish

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Before reading a chapter

1. Set aside a quiet time and place to study.2. Examine the chapter objectives.3. Take the chapter pretest; check your answers.

As you read a chapter

1. Use a marker to highlight important concepts.2. Write questions in margins to ask in class.3. Study examples and illustrations.

Chapter 1, Guffey-Seefer, Business English, 10e, Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning, All Rights Reserved

OrientationOrientationHow to Study Business How to Study Business EnglishEnglish

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After reading a chapter

1. Review the passages you highlighted.2. Ask yourself whether you understand the

concepts presented.3. Take the posttest; compare with pretest.4. Complete Exercise A of the reinforcement

exercises. If you have more than three incorrect responses (out of ten), reread the chapter.

5. Finish all the assigned exercises before returning to class.


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What is Business What is Business English?English?

Business English is the study of language fundamentals needed to communicate effectively in today's workplace. These fundamentals include the following:

• Grammar• Usage• Punctuation

• Capitalization• Number style• Spelling/Vocabulary


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Why study Business Why study Business English?English?

• To refresh rusty skills• To feel confident in using the language• To succeed in a workplace where increasing

emphasis is placed on oral and written communication


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Can you become an Can you become an expert?expert?

Yes, you can become an expert by learning where to find answers. You will need these books:

• A current college-level or desk dictionary• A good office reference manual• Your textbook


Types of DictionariesTypes of Dictionaries Electronic dictionaries

◦At Web sites◦On CD-ROM programs◦In word processing programs◦In handheld digital devices

Pocket dictionaries◦May contain up to 75,000 entries◦Serve as handy—but incomplete—

references

1-7Chapter 1, Guffey-Seefer, Business English, 10e, Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning, All Rights Reserved

Types of DictionariesTypes of Dictionaries College-level or desk dictionaries

◦ May contain up to 200,000 entries ◦ Are “abridged” (shortened)◦ Often include extra features such as

language, geographical, biographical, and measurement data.

Unabridged (complete) dictionaries◦ May contain up to 450,000 entries◦ Are used by professional writers, scholars◦ May be found in libraries, schools, editorial

offices

1-8Chapter 1, Guffey-Seefer, Business English, 10e, Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning, All Rights Reserved

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Ten Important Points Ten Important Points in Using in Using

Your DictionaryYour Dictionary


1. Read the introduction to your dictionary. Determine the order of definitions.

2. Use the guide words at tops of pages to help you locate words.

3. Learn to distinguish among the following:• Centered dots to show syllable breaks:

selfless• Hyphens to show hyphenated words:

self-conscious• Space left between words to indicate

separate words: word processing

Chapter 1, Guffey-Seefer, Business English, 10e, Copyright 2011 Cengage Learning, All Rights Reserved 1-10

4. Use diacritical marks to help you pronounce a word correctly. A summary of these special symbols is usually found at the bottom of each set of dictionary pages.

For example, how would youpronounce this word?

_ _i rate (an irate taxpayer)


5. Study a word’s accent marks to learn which syllable to stress. Primary accent marks may precede or follow a stressed syllable.

ob ser ‘va tion (Webster’s New Collegiate)

ob ser va’ tion (American Heritage)


6. Examine a word’s etymology (word history). • Dictionaries that emphasize

etymology place it before the definitions.

• Square brackets [ ] enclose the word history.

• Don’t confuse etymological definitions with entry definitions.


7. Note what part of speech a word is. Parts of speech are usually italicized and abbreviated.

What do you think these abbreviations mean? How can they help you learn about a word?

adj prepadv pronconj v or vbinterj vt or tr. v.n vi or intr. v.


8. Labels are used in some dictionaries to warn readers about appropriate usage. Here are some common labels:• archaic: words surviving from a

previous period, such as affright (terror)

• col. or inf. (colloquial or informal): used in casual writing or conversation, such as the word deadhead for a sluggish person

• slang: very informal language, but may be used for effect, such as Chill, dude!


8. Labels (continued)• Nonstandard or substandard:

not conforming to usage among educated speakers, such as ain’t or irregardless

• dial (dialect) or Brit., West., Scot: used in certain regions, such as the word bonnet to mean car hood.


9. Inflected forms are word forms that change when they are used differently in sentences, e.g., the past tense of a verb. Most dictionaries show only irregular changes in nouns, verbs, and adjectives.

Nouns: woman, womenVerbs: go, went, goneAdjectives: good, better,

best


10. Synonyms and antonyms are often provided.

Synonyms: words with similar meanings

ignorant — unaware (synonym)

Antonyms: words with opposite meanings

condemn — exonerate (antonym)


Plugging in toPlugging in toElectronic Dictionaries Electronic Dictionaries

Locate misspelled wordsFind synonyms and antonymsSpell check your documents


Electronic dictionaries are useful to do the following:

Accessing Online Accessing Online Dictionaries Dictionaries

Access up-to-date vocabularyLearn new wordsPerform language translationHear audio pronunciations


Online and other high-tech dictionaries are useful to do the following:

Reference Manuals Reference Manuals

Punctuation is explained in rules accompanied by examples.

Hyphenation rules are provided for dividing words and for constructing compound words.

Capitalization rules are stated and illustrated.Number style is shown. Commonly confused words are compared.Abbreviations and acronyms are listed and

defined.


Reference manuals contain helpful information not found in dictionaries, such as the following:

10 th edition, © 2011, cengage learning chapter 1 reference skills

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