Building Rapport

Since everyone seems to be arguing over punctuation these days, I’d like to share this resource with you.

Three new rules for handling commas
By Don Ranly ranlyd@missouri.edu or www.ranly.com.
http://www.ragan.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=MultiPublishing&mod=PublishingTitles&mid=5AA50C55146B4C8C98F903986BC02C56&tier=4&id=C85B28BBC6394773A57BF442451F7464&AudID=3FF14703FD8C4AE98B9B4365B978201A

For the explanation, you need to read his post. In short he says:
Let me state those five once again before I go on:

1. Always place a comma after words in a series but not before “and” or “or” unless the meaning is unclear.
2. Always place a comma after an introductory dependent clause in a complex sentence.
3. Always place a comma after an introductory independent clause in a compound sentence before the coordinating conjunction.
4. Always set off nonessential, nonrestrictive words, phrases and clauses with commas.
5. Always place a comma after introductory participial phrases.
6. Always place a comma after two or more introductory prepositional phrases.
7. Always place a comma after an introductory interjection, an independent element or direct address.
8. Always place a comma between coordinate adjectives.

Some adjectives are never coordinate. They refer to:

1. Color. Example: The sleek red convertible.

2. Age. Example: The tired young man.

3. Material. Example: The expensive silk dress.

4. Shape. Example: The tall round building.

5. Nationality. Example: The prominent French director.

I particularly appreciate the last list.

From the International Association of Business Communicators,
http://www.iabc.com/cwb/archive/2004/0504/mistakes.htm

Making a Crisis Worse: The Biggest Mistakes in Crisis Communication
by Jonathan Bernstein

One of eleven mistakes discussed:

Use language your audience doesn’t understand. Jargon and arcane acronyms are but two of the ways you can be sure to confuse your audiences and a surefire way to make most crises worse. Let’s check out a few of these taken-from-real-situations gems:

* The rate went up 10 basis points.
* We’re considering development of a SNFF or a CCRC.
* We ask that you submit exculpatory evidence to the grand jury.
* The material has less than 0.65 ppm benzene as measured by the TCLP.

To the average member of the public, and to most of the media who serve them, the general reaction to such statements is “Huh?”

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