Technical Communication 4B

A.2.
Accuracy In Vocabulary
To communicate effectively, we must possess a powerful vocabulary since words are the tools that we use
in our day-to-day encounter with different types of people. As a correspondent, we need to aim for just a
working vocabulary of 30,000 – 50,000 words (Arrevillaga, 1989) meaning we don’t need to memorize
millions of words in the dictionary. The language today is uniquely complimented with jargons, acronyms,
and buzz words. The writer must pay attention in defining acronyms and using vocabulary in a clear
consistent way. For example, FYI is an acronym of For Your Information. Remember, to become an
effective writer you should have enough words to use and you should choose the exact words in expressing
your idea.
Usage
Frequently Confused Words
1. Ability, capacity
Ability means the state of being able, or the power to do something.
Capacity is the power of receiving or containing.
∙ A computer has the ability to create graphics.
∙ The computer has the capacity of 64 K.
2. About, approximately
About indicates a rough estimate; approximately implies near accuracy.
∙ We are about halfway to the Holy Mountain.
∙ There are approximately 1.05 quarts in a liter.
3. Accept, except
Accept means to receive willingly; except means excluding
∙ I accept your appreciation.
∙ You’ll be excused from doing this activity except that one.
4. Advise, inform
Advise means to offer counsel and suggestion; inform means to communicate information.
∙ I advise you to be attentive in the discussion.
∙ They inform me about your resignation.
5. Anxious, eager
Use anxious when anxiety or worry is involved. Eager means highly desirous of something.
∙ I’m anxious about the result of the exam.
∙ Chella is eager to pursue in Journalism.
6. Beside, besides
Beside means by the side of; besides means in addition to.
∙ She sits beside Mari Karl.
∙ Besides teaching, I direct stage plays.
7. Disinterested, uninterested
Disinterested means impartial. Uninterested means indifferent, bored.
• Some of the voters were disinterested in the just concluded US Presidential election.
• The audience suddenly feel uninterested with the video presentation.
8. E.g., i.e.
e.g. means for example; i.e. means in other words, or that is
9. Equipment, equipments
Use equipment as singular or plural. There is no such word as equipments.
10. Farther, further
Farther refers to physical distance. Further refers to matters in which physical measurement is impossible.
∙ He runs a kilometer farther from the finish line.
∙ Further research is encouraged.
11. Ultimate, penultimate
Ultimate means last; penultimate means next to last. Do not use penultimate as a superlative of ultimate.
ACTIVITY NO. 11
Fill in the blanks with an appropriate word taken from the following pairs of frequently confused words:
that-which-who stationery-stationary
who’s – whose quiet-quite
whether- weather some time-sometime
two-to-too your-you’re
their-they’re-there
1. _______________________an adjective which means at rest or not moving
_______________________ a noun which means writing materials
2. _______________________ means not noisy

_______________________ means “entirely”
3. _______________________ refers to people or things

_______________________ refers only to things
_______________________ refers only to people
4. _______________________ as a point in time

_______________________ as an amount of time
The work will be completed ___________________________ soon.
This method has not been in effect for ______________________.
5. ___________________ means “who is”

___________________ means of or belonging to a person as possessor
___________________ going to travel by train?
___________________ little black puppy is this?
6. ___________________ a possessive pronoun
___________________ can be used as an expletive at the beginning of a sentence
___________________ is a contraction of they are
7. ___________________ a preposition
___________________ an adverb
___________________ a number
8. ___________________ means atmospheric conditions or come safely through

___________________ means which of the two
9. __________________ means belonging to you or yourself

__________________ is the contraction of you are
__________________ musical performance is superb!
__________________ not to pass another vehicle in this lane.
A.3. Accuracy In Spelling
The advent of technology, especially the gadgets for communication, caused the users no longer
mindful of their spelling. But as a correspondent, you have to make sure that every word must be
spelled correctly. Horrible spelling can ruin your company’s reputation, even yours.
Some of the troubles in spelling may come from incorrect pronunciation, and at times may come from a
bad handwriting. Here are helpful tips to avoid misspelling the words:
1. Learn to pronounce the word syllable by syllable.
2. Copy the word carefully, forming each letter as plainly as you can.
3. Pronounce the word carefully again.
4. On a separate sheet of paper, write the word from memory.
5. Words are sometimes misspelled if they are inflected with prefixes and suffixes: e.g. pronounce +
-tion = pronunciation.
6. Remember too that there are words with spelling variant:, e.g., meter-metre, judgement-judgment-
what is important here is you have to be consistent in using them.
ACTIVITY NO. 12
A. Supply the missing letter with either ei or ie.
1. hyg___ne 8. F ___gn
2. dec___t 9. ch___f
3. sl___gh 10. p___ce
4. conc___ve 11. counterf___t
5. s___zure 12. med___val
6. conc___t 13. s___ge
7. rec___pt 14. p___rce
15. l__ utenant
B. Supply the missing letter either with –sede, -ceed or –cede
1. pro_____ 6. re____
2. con_____ 7. super_____
3. se_____ 8. ac_____
4. pre____ 9. ex_____
5. suc____ 10. inter____

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A.2.

2. _______________________ means not noisy

3. _______________________ refers to people or things

4. _______________________ as a point in time

5. ___________________ means “who is”

8. ___________________ means atmospheric conditions or come safely through

9. __________________ means belonging to you or yourself

B. Supply the missing letter either with –sede, -ceed or –cede

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