Skip to content

CMA Foundation · Fundamentals of Business Laws and Business Communication · Writing and Drafting for Business Audiences

An email to a supplier says: 'Please send the revised quotation.' It omits the item code, quantity and the deadline, so the supplier replies asking for details. Which communication quality was chiefly lacking, and what is its core test?

Completeness was lacking. A complete message supplies everything the receiver needs to act without further queries. Missing item code, quantity and deadline forced the supplier to ask again. Shortness is not a virtue when it leaves out essential information.

  1. AClarity: whether the words are simple
  2. BCompleteness: whether the message gives all information the receiver needs to actCorrect
  3. CCourtesy: whether polite words are used
  4. DConciseness: whether the message is as short as possible

Explanation

The supplier had to ask for more information because essential facts (code, quantity, deadline) were missing, a failure of completeness. Brevity alone is not the goal; conciseness does not justify omitting necessary details, so option four is wrong.

Did you get it right without looking?

One question tells you little. A timed set on Writing and Drafting for Business Audiences shows your real accuracy, how long you take and where you lose marks.

Practise Writing and Drafting for Business AudiencesFree diagnostic mock

More Writing and Drafting for Business Audiences questions