Glossary

In a business writing context, audience refers to the intended recipient or recipients of a piece of communication. Understanding your audience is crucial for crafting effective messages that achieve their desired purpose.

This genre of writing refers to the exchange of written or typed information to conduct business activities. Essentially, all the official written communication occurs within a company or between different companies.

False or misleading information deliberately created and spread to deceive or manipulate an audience. Example: A company might release false statistics about a competitor's product to harm their reputation.

Fabricated or intentionally misleading information presented as legitimate news, often to influence public opinion or generate attention.

Genre conventions are the typical characteristics, features, and expectations associated with a specific type of writing.

Example: A business letter typically includes a formal salutation (e.g., "Dear Mr. Smith"), a clear and concise message, and a professional closing (e.g., "Sincerely"). These elements are genre conventions for business letters.

(see also "sub-genres"

Memoranda (or memos) are brief, informal written documents used for internal communication within an organization.

Example: A memo could be used to announce a change in office policy, remind employees of an upcoming meeting, or provide a quick update on a project.

The act of restating someone else's ideas or information in your own words while retaining the original meaning. The reference should still be listed and cited appropriately.
Example:

Original Quote:
“Leadership is not about being in charge. It is about taking care of those in your charge” (Sinek, 2014, p. 7).

Paraphrase:
According to Sinek (2014), leadership involves prioritizing the well-being of those you are responsible for rather than simply exerting authority.

Reference:
Sinek, S. (2014). Leaders eat last: Why some teams pull together and others don't. Penguin.

The potential gains or losses associated with a particular decision or course of action. In business, stakes often include financial gains or losses but can also include reputation, market share, customer satisfaction, and other factors.

Sub-genres are more specific categories within a larger genre, each with its own distinct conventions.

Example: While business writing is a genre, sub-genres within it include emails, proposals, reports, and memos. Each has its own specific conventions, such as the informal style often used in emails compared to the more formal tone of a business proposal.