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Writing, Editing & Proofing Copy at SAIPL

Final

September 8, 2011

ContentsI)Helpful writing reference books and websites4II)Consistency, consistency, consistencytemplate preparation and initial report preparation decisions4i)Use American English and spellings4ii)Standardize excel and templates4iii)Correct grammar, syntax and punctuation use4iv)Accurate and consistent number use4v)Consistent unit of measure use5Currency consistency5vi)Period use5vii)Rounding sentence5viii)Consistent use of trade names, company names, brand names and so forth5ix)Kindly check all proper names of organizations and companies for spellings and proper style from their websites, annual reports5x)Know your geography and correct spellings5xi)Spelling technical terms6xii)Spelling common nouns6xiii)Forward slash6xiv)Underlining words & phrases6xv)Use of caps6xvi)Use plurals for all nouns7xvii)Using brackets7xviii)Using notes7xx)Rules for using hyphens7xxi)Section and slide headings8xxii)Slide headings9III)Pie/chart/graphheadings/footers9IV)Numerals-numbers/words consistency9V)Definitions10VI)Abbreviation use10VII)Style for salutations, proper names, designations, departments and addresses10VIII)Call reports (absolutely critical) information11IX)Proper style for acts, laws, policies, directives11X)Verbatim comments12XI)Correct word/phrase use12XII)Sentence structure12i)Advantage: short sentence12ii)Active and passive sentences13iii)Reduce words, especially prepositions and articles, in sentences13iv)Sentences where articles and prepositions are necessary14v)Use prepositions correctly14XIII)Eliminate words that do not add value14XIV)Using past tense14XV)Be exact and confident15XVI)Describing a pie/graph/chart15XVII)Avoid singular/plural confusion16XVIII)Other notable points16XIX)Use shorter words with the same meaning16i)Preferred words16XX)Use variety of words (look for correct synonyms that signify the correct meaning)16XXI)Spell check17XXII)Understanding the meaning of deliverables17XXIII)Source citation18

I) Helpful writing reference books and websites

Please use:

Strunk and White's, The Elements of Style

http://www.getitwriteonline.com/archive/103103WhichThat.htm

Chicago Manual of Style

Merriam Websters dictionary for US spellings

Note: Do not use Microsoft, it has a very poor vocabulary

Do not let Microsoft take the drivers seat; it tries to push too much and sometimes gives us the wrong spelling/word. Many times, it does not understand the sense or meaning of what we intend to say

II) Consistency, consistency, consistencytemplate preparation and initial report preparation decisionsi) Use American English and spellings

Our parent company is US-based. To maintain consistency we use US spellings

Please use Merriam Websters dictionary for US spellings

Notable exception: since we mostly cover the Indian market, where we use Queens English, we will use Queens English spellings for proper Indian names where Queens English appears i.e. Ministry of Defence (not Ministry of Defense); Centre for International Studies (not Center for International Studies), and so on

ii) Standardize excel and templates

Both excel and templates to be standardized with project leader/team leader/SMS/GK for standardization, consistency

Standardize excel sheet: When we start the project, we should standardize the items in the excel sheet so we can just copy the information from the excel correctly instead of changing it for each ppt pie and graph

Standardize style for templatessection and slide headings, sub-headings, commas, colons, hyphen use etc.

iii) Correct grammar, syntax and punctuation use

Must always be correct and consistent throughout the report

Syntax defined: The arrangement of words in sentences, clauses, and phrases, and the study of the formation of sentences and the relationship of their component parts

iv) Accurate and consistent number use

Numbers must be accurate, consistent and correlate across the entire report

Standardize decimals for final report after you get go ahead from the project leader

For forecasts in final report, it is prudent to give rounded numbers since it is impossible to predict the future with such exactitude as to give projections to the first, second or third decimal place

This will be done for final report after you receive go ahead from the project leader

v) Consistent unit of measure use Currency consistency

INR, US$; specify which dollar it is since several countries use dollars as their currency

Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and Hong Kong

Preferably use INR/US$ million, billion etc; avoid lakh/lac and crore unless client specifically requests it; note that plural for crore is also crore not crores

Put abbreviation and symbol before number for currencies

Put space between abbreviation and symbol and number

For example: INR/US$ 30 million

Other units of measure

For all other units of measure, in general, use small case with a few exceptions; use symbol or abbreviation; use superscript where applicable

Put space between number and unit unless otherwise specified in links below or using a specific industry standard i.e healthcare; put number before unit; do not use period at end of abbreviation or symbol

Use the following links for specific symbols and abbreviations:

http://www.physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/index.html

http://www.physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/units.html

http://englishplus.com/grammar/00000058.htm

http://abacus.bates.edu/~ganderso/biology/resources/writing/HTWabbr.html#mass

vi) Period use

SAIPL rule, do not use period at end of sentence

vii) Rounding sentence

Use:

Figures may not add up due to rounding

Do not use:

Figures may not add up due to rounding off

viii) Consistent use of trade names, company names, brand names and so forth

Check that all proper names for places, persons and companies are spelt correctly in title case. For example Tamil Nadu, Manmohan Singh, Essar Group (this should not be in small case), Larsen & Toubro

ix) Kindly check all proper names of organizations and companies for spellings and proper style from their websites, annual reportsx) Know your geography and correct spellings

For example, Southeast Asia not South East Asia and not SouthEast Asia; East Asia not Far East); although Middle East is also used from a Eurocentric perspective, we still use it in SAI, so we will continue to use it

Similarly, write North, South, East, Northeast and West India or northern, southern, western, eastern and northeastern regions. Please note variation in use of small case and title case

xi) Spelling technical terms

Molecule, active ingredient, chemical, medical terms should be in small caseunless they are brand names, grade names(written in small case, title case or caps as spelt as per accepted industry standards or by a company) or written as proper names in a medical/technical dictionary

For example, diabetes, cancer, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides should be in small or sentence case

Crohns disease or Hodgkins lymphoma/disease-only Crohns or Hodgkins should be in title case; disease and lymphoma should be in small case

xii) Spelling common nouns

Common nouns should be in small case in the middle of a sentence and title case/sentence case in the beginning of the sentence. For example, use multinationals, countries, doctors, pharmacists, gynecologists, ophthalmologists, automobiles, engines and so on in the middle of the sentence; use these same words in title case in sub-headings or in the beginning of a sentence

xiii) Forward slash

Use forward slash as a last resort. If you use it to separate words, do not use spaces on either side

For example: hotels/suppliers/distributors

xiv) Underlining words& phrases

The underline should not extend past the last word; colons, commas, periods and spaces are not to be underlined. See for example the following sub-headings:

End-use segments:

Pharmaceuticals, home and personal care, electronics, consumer and retail:

xv) Use of caps

Do not use caps in the middle of the sentence/phrase except for proper nouns

Correct use: Field research, SAI field research, MAS field research, primary interviews

Incorrect use: Field Research, SAI FIELD RESEARCH, MAS Field Research, Primary Interviews

Correct use:

Delhi pharmacists only sell the product if it is prescribed by a cardiologist

Customers have a demonstrated preference for Bayers fungicides

Incorrect use:

Delhi Pharmacists only sell the Product if it is prescribed by a Cardiologist

Customers have a demonstrated preference for Bayers Fungicides

xvi) Use plurals for all nouns

For all nounshotels, suppliers, distributors, emulsions, graphics throughout the document for bullets, charts, tables and graphs; do not interchange singular and plural, be consistent

Exception, examples of sentences:

Correct use: The cost of product delivery was US$ 50 million

Correct use:The cost of delivering the products was US$ 50 million

Incorrect use: The cost of products delivery was US$ 50 million

Correct use: Bearing imports comprised 50% of the companys total sales

Incorrect use: Bearings imports comprised 50% of the companys total sales

In SWOT chart use plural and title caseStrengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats

xvii) Using brackets

Words inside a bracket as part of a sentence should not be in title case

Correct use: Distributors accounted for 50% of sales (remaining were direct)

Incorrect use: Distributors accounted for 50% of sales (Remaining were direct)

xviii) Using notes

Notes are required to explain all variations

Notes should be in alphabetical order from "a" to "z" except for "e" which is reserved for "estimate", f which is reserved for forecast and "p" which is reserved for projected

Use standardized SAI format for note throughout report a-, both above and where you are putting the note

Please do not forget to check that you have put a- where it is supposed to appear in table, graph, pie chart and at the bottom of the page where you provide the explanation

xix) Use the colon as separator in tables and charts

Sinters: 2

Customers: 2

Plants: 2

xx) Rules for using hyphens

Defining en dash and em dash:

En dash (-) is defined as such because it is the size of the letter n

Em dash ()is defined as such because it is the size of the letter m

http://painintheenglish.com/case/72 (pl see this link for further discussion of use of en dash and em dash)

When to hyphenate a word

Anen dash is always used to hyphenate words

Please go through the following two websites on rules for word hyphenation

http://www.getitwriteonline.com/archive/042703CompWdsHyph.htm

http://www.getitwriteonline.com/archive/040201HyphAdj.htm

http://www.wilbers.com/part24.htm

Decision-making process (yes, adjective)

Decision maker (no, noun)

End user (no, noun)

End-user group (yes, adjective)

End-use segment (yes, adjective)

End-use markets

End-user needs

High-growth products

High-quality products

On-time delivery

Timely delivery

High-end products

Low-value products

Low-cost product

Multi-format homes

Non-permanent homes

Ready-to-wear

Sub-segments

City-wise

Segment-wise

Group-wise

Company-wise

Point-of-use

Point-of-entry

High-rise flats

Channel-to-market

Coal-based

Gas-based

Inter-trade

Intra-trade

Two-year plan

Two-day credit

Five-week credit

Two years later

Five-year plan

Full-time

Part-time

Two-day credit

Two-week credit

Low-, mid-, and high-end markets (note the difference below)

Mid- and high-end market

Mid- and high-end markets (do not write low-end, mid-end and high-end markets)

Some examples of when to hyphenate adjectives in a sentence:

Hyphenated adjectives:

Our long-range plan included several company-specific marketing strategies

The five-year-old boy was injured

Long-term planning must be an essential goal of this company

This is a government-mandated program

xxi) Section and slide headings

Section headings

Uniform across all section slides; caps, arial (body) 14

OVERVIEW OF BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

Use an em dash if you use one heading break as follows:

ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL GRAPHIC PRODUCTS/SOLUTIONS MARKETALL INDIA

xxii) Slide headings

Standardize font, case(caps), en dash and em dash, comma and colon; always give a date when referring to numbers pertaining to a specific year i.e 2010 or period 2005-2010

Caps, font arial black, size 18; comma is placed before date

Examples of headings depending on number of breaks are as follows:

One heading break, only em-dash

SEGMENT OVERVIEWCOMMERCIAL

Two heading breaks, one em dash, comma before date

INDONESIASUPPLIERPROFILES, 2009

Three heading breaks, one em dash as first separator, colon as second separator, comma before date

CASE STUDYCHEVRON ESCRAVOS-NIGERIA, 2009

Two heading breaks without a date, one em dash as first separator; colon as second separator

SALT PRODUCTIONHISTORICAL AND CURRENT: BY SOURCE AND KEY STATES

III) Pie/chart/graphheadings/footers

Use consistent format for pie, chart and graph as a heading and footer

Pie heading: caps, ariel body font, size 10

Footer heading: Footer heading is in sentence case; arial font bold, size 12; colon as separator, no space before colon, space after colon; if date is given, comma before date

Market size, 2009: US$ 30 million

Eliminate/reduce preposition(of, for, by etc) and article(a, an, the) use in all sub-headings

Examples:

Less preferred use: Profile of the suppliers

Preferred use: Supplier profiles

Less preferred use: Satisfaction level of the customers

Preferred use: Customer satisfaction levels

IV) Numerals-numbers/words consistency

You will, of course, use numerals for all numbers in data tables, charts and graphs

This includes summarization of points in a descriptive chart or table where you can use numerals for numbers from 1 to 10

For example: 2-day turnaround; 7-day credit period; 2 weeks training; after-sales services within 1 day

Please use the following 10 rules for writing numbers and numerals in bullets as described in the following web pages:

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/10-rules-for-writing-numbers-and-numerals/

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/when-to-spell-out-numbers/

V) Definitions

Please define all terms used. Unless necessary, please do not give definitions in your own words. Take the help of globally accepted and recognized industry standard definitions from globally recognized and accredited dictionaries. You can cite them directly, without paraphrasing; if you wish you can give source

VI) Abbreviation use

Please give full form in abbreviation list and only use full form once, for first use in document when you also give the abbreviation. After that do not use full form

Note: If you intend to use full form throughout the document, please do not give or use abbreviation at all; it is incorrect to give an abbreviation that you tell the clientyou will use it to save space in the report and then continue to use the full form from time-to-time throughout the report

Correct style of giving full form and abbreviation:

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)

Incorrect style

(Jawaharlal Nehru University) JNU

Correct style

Total cost of ownership (TCO)

Incorrect style

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Correct style

Return on assets (ROA)

Incorrect style

Return on Assets (ROA)

Correct style

Iron ore (IO)

Incorrect style

Iron Ore (IO)

Correct style

Coal-based plants (CBP)

Incorrect style

Coal-Based Plants (CBP) Or Coal Based Plants (CBP)

VII) Style for salutations, proper names, designations, departmentsand addresses

Do not use salutations: Mr.,Ms. and Dr.

Just give initials and last name, or first and last name; do not use periods after initials

Example do not use: S.N. Ruia; use SN Ruia

Do not use periods and full forms for academic and professional qualifications. Instead usePhD, MD (for Doctor of Medicine),MBBS, CEO

Distinguish between generic function and given designation

Use small case for:

Generic, functional area of operation i.e business consultant, sales representative, field officer, purchase manager, accounts in-charge, plant in-charge etc

Use title case for:

Given designations: Sales Representative, Supervisor In-charge, Vice President, Sales Manager

Use small case for:

Generic, functional area of operation i.e finance and accounts department, finance and accounts division, human resources department, oncology strategic business unit, oncology profit center

Use title case for:

Given departments/division names-Sales and Marketing Division, Purchase Division, Finance& Accounts, Oncology Division/Strategic Business Unit

All proper name spellingsnames of companies, placesand products should be checked

If proper name has two parts (example, Essar Group), both should be title case; if the name of an organization has an article or preposition then it should be cited like this:

The International Labor Organization

The Cellular Operators Association of India

Ensure exact spelling is cited, check website or check with person i.e. Verma or Varma; Swaroop or Swarup; Agrawal or Agarwal, etc.

Addresses

No comma at end of each page break for addresses

The underline in the address should not extend beyond the last letter of the word or the last word in a sub-heading; the colon is notto be underlined. For example:

Headquarters:

273, Kamarajanar Road, PO Box No 30

Attur Salem District, Tamil Nadu636001

OR

Plant Location(s): Same as above

Do not use a hyphen to separate pin code in company addresses; use only a space

Mention pin code in company address

VIII) Call reports (absolutely critical) information

Full name of the person, first and last name or initials and last name

Designation

Company name

Contact details

If the full name of the person is not available, the call report cannot be used, (if we are required to give this to a client or our US office) and will therefore become worthless

Ensure exact spelling is cited, check website or check with person i.e. Verma or Varma; Swaroop or Swarup; Agrawal or Agarwal, etc.

IX) Proper style for acts, laws, policies, directives

Use title case

Ensure exact form is cited

Dates must be given

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board Act, 2006

X) Verbatim comments

Use italics on either side of quotation

Only use period at the end of verbatim comments, according to SAI Industrial

Use period inside before italics. For example:

The company is a leading supplier of smart phones in the Indian market.

Give designation, company or organizationname as per SAI format consistently

Example: For Astra Zeneca, its entire skills and resources are focused on discovering, developing and marketing medicines for some of the worlds most serious illnesses, including cancer, heart diseases, respiratory diseases and infections, andneurological disorders such as, schizophrenia.

Regional Manager, New Delhi

XI) Correct word/phrase use

Companies are not human beings, do not use who/whom/their

Use its(which is a possessive pronoun);do not use its

its = belonging to it, eg, Please return the book to its owner.

its = it is,for example, Who thinks its time for a coffee break?

MNCs, hotels, suppliers are not plural, they are possessive; MNCs, hotels, suppliers are plural

Our hotels concierge recommended we have dinner at one of the hotels near the airport before departing for London

No contractions, casual usedo not use: its, cant, dont; usecannot,it is,do not

Do not use Hinglish or American slang i.e. majorly which is American slang, not professional English; instead use, mainly, primarily, etc.

Do not use words that are normally only used for informal verbal communication such as specially; instead, use particularly, especially, primarily

It faces competition, not face competition

For example, Essar faces competition from Reliance

There/Their

There is a striking resemblance between the twins

There is an abundance of natural gas in North America, but it is a non-renewable resource

Their manufacturing plants are located in various countries

The students have finished their homework

XII) Sentence structurei) Advantage: short sentence

Try to speak and write short sentences

Short sentences have several advantages:

One has to spend less time writing the sentence i.e. keying in the words, so it makes the whole process of writing call reports, meeting notes and report writing more efficient

Your supervisor will have to read less, so he/she will be able to spend more time on other important issues with you

This directly impacts your lives

If you spend one hour less a day on writing, how many free hours would you have in a year, and how many in your lifetime?

It is easier to achieve accuracy with short and direct sentences

Since less words are used, it is also easier to correct shorter sentences

One is less likely to make mistakes

Short sentences are clear, strong, powerful and hard-hitting

This is our goal! After all, we live by the power of the pen!

Short sentences demonstrate that we have confidence in ourselves and that we do not need to qualify anything

Short sentences are attention grabbers

Our clients are busy; they want to read less

Short sentences enable us to say what we mean in less

They assist in pleasing the client

Long, dragging sentences with a 100 qualifiers only irritate readers

They want you to get to the point, quickly and powerfully

ii) Active and passive sentences

Kindly study the following two sentences carefully. Try to follow the first model in future, to the extent possible, since it is direct, shorter and more active.

The second sentence is long and passive

Preferred use:

Sentence 1

For niche applications, import dependence will continue. (Better style, short, tight, seven words)

Less preferred use:

Sentence 2

There will be dependency on imports as well for requirements in niche applications (long and passive), (13 words)

(Note: Active voice is more direct and communicates your point more efficiently: Afridi dropped the ball. Passive voice is indirect: The ball was dropped.If you want to communicate that Afridis error led to his teams defeat, then use active voice. If you want to acknowledge the mistake without reminding everyone who made it (if you are Afridis fielding coach, for example), then passive voice is your friend. But using the passive voice can come across as indirect, vague, and even evasive.)

Be more active: use will not would wherever possible

For example: Essar will establish a greenfield refinery to combat Reliances dominance

iii) Reduce words, especially prepositions and articles, in sentences

Some examples are:

Preferred uses:

Most companies procure their requirements directly from suppliers

Mitsui completed the companys entire sales in India

In 2008, Indias overall floor matting market was US$ 4 million (8 words excluding US$ 4 million, saving of 11 words)

Less preferred uses:

Most of the companies procure their requirements directly from the suppliers

Companys entire sales in India are completed byMitsui

The size of the overall market for floor matting products in India in the year 2008 was US$ 4 million by value (19 words excluding US$ 4 million)

iv) Sentences where articles and prepositions are necessary

Some examples are:

Merck has a (specifying a singular/one)pharmaceutical R&D centre at Navi Mumbai, which is recognized by the (specifying a particular department) Department of Scientific and Industrial Research

Currently, Solvay is the only producer of PES resin/compounds in India

Mitsui completed the companys entire sales in India

Erbitux exhibitedan (used before a vowel) annual growth rate of 18%

Sales of 100mg packs significantly exceeded sales of 500mg packs

Quality is the key success factor for Mitsubishi in India

Management programs are categorized on the basis of designation

v) Use prepositions correctly

Use prepositions correctly. Visualize the action in your mind before using a preposition. Then you will know which one to use. For example:

The book is on the table not the book is in the table

Visualize, is the book on the table or did it manage to enter the table?

Avoid of and for confusion

Correct usage: There was growing demand for coal in India in 2010

Incorrect usage: There was growing demand of coal in India in 2010

Correct usage: There was an increasing demand for small cars in the USA

Incorrect usage: There is increasing demand of small cars in the USA

In 2010, total market (installed base) ofenvironmental graphic products/solutions was INR 6,822 million

In 2010, total market (installed base) for environmental graphic products/solutions was INR 6,822 million

Correct usage: The fungicide is applied on the crop

Incorrect usage: The fungicide is used in the crop

Correct usage: The emulsifier is used in the paint

Incorrect usage: The emulsifier is used on the paint

XIII) Eliminate words that do not add value

It is understood that US$ 4 million is value

It is understood that 4 million metric tons is volume

Exception: You can add volume and value when you have to give both value and volume in a single sentence. For example:In 2009, the automotive market was 12 million units and US$ 4 billion by volume and value, respectively

Alternatively, in this case, you can also write as follows: In 2009, Indias automobile industry sold 12 million units for US$ 4 billion

XIV) Using past tense

Always use past tense for all data pertaining to the year that we have committed to report on i.e the previous quarter, half year or previous yearyesterday was also past. Normally, we report about events that are valid for the preceding year. So, in 2011 we normally write about 2010 and so on

Since we cannot vouch for any major change of events in the period that passed between the time we completed the research and submitted the report to the client, we are better off giving all details in past tense

Please note: This rule does not apply to present and future events and trends; it also does not apply to projections

XV) Be exact and confident

All our work is an estimate, an assessment based on a best effort basis

When you are giving an exact number in the pie, chart and graphi.e. 78% why say around 78% or nearly 78%; if you have so little confidence in your own research then also put around 78% in the pie!

Eliminate close to, nearly, approximately, around, roughly, a little over, over, just about, almost and so on and so forth

Once you have rounded the number in the pie, graph and chart on a slide then also round it in the bullets

Exception: You can use these terms when you actually give an approximation. For example:

Four multinational companies-Huntsman, BASF, Dow and Bayer, collectively controlled almost(a little over, about, nearly, approximately) 50% of the market

XVI) Describing a pie/graph/chart

Use:

The northern region generated(accounted for, was responsible for) 76% of the companys total sales

76% of the companys sales came from North India

Do not use:

The northern region constituted (comprised) 76% of the companys total sales

North India constituted(comprised) 86% of the overall market

Use:

Sales in the northern region accounted for (comprised, contributed) 86% of the overall market

Sales in North India accounted for (comprised, contributed xx% to) 86% of the overall market

Use:

The brandcontributed (accounted for, generated, was responsible for) 76% to companys sales

Do not use:

The brand comprised (constituted) 76% of the companys sales

Use:

Fungicidescomprised (accounted for, constituted, generated, contributedxx% to) 76% of the companys sales

Cardiologists comprised 50% of total prescribers

Describing company market share:

Use the following sentence structures

Note: The sentences below are not based on real market numbers; they are written for illustrative purposes

Pfizer controlled 76% of the total market in the cardiology segment

Bayer had 76% market share in Indias agrochemical industry

Reliance dominated the petrochemical market with 80%market share

Coke, the only player in the beverage market, monopolized the market

Do not use market share to describe percentage share/portion/segment of a market for region (i.e. North, South, East and West), or a market segment (i.e. oncology, diabetes)

XVII) Avoid singular/plural confusion

Has/have

Is/are

Was/were

Their/its

The total consumption of bearings (bearing) counterfeited under Nachi's brand in India was (were) INR 80 million

Ball bearings(bearing) were (was) the most commonly counterfeited bearings, comprising close to 68% of the total market, at INR 55 million

The taper roller bearings (bearing) counterfeit market was (were) INR 14 million

The counterfeit market for spherical bearings was (were) INR 7 million

The company supplied its (their) products through its (their) distributors

The company has (have) a major export facility

The export markets were (was) very competitive

Imported products were (was) sourced from foreign countries such as Indonesia and Thailand

Trend is, not are; trends are, not is

Does not and do not

It is The company does not manufacture not The company do not.

Details are placed below, not details is placed below

Better to say details are: details are as follows, details are depicted or details are illustrated if it is a visual representation

Details are described and details are delineated if it is detailed written information that you are giving

Some words are uncountable nouns, so singular and plural are the same: Equipment (not, equipments), information(not informations), Machinery (not, machineries), consumption (not consumptions);production (not productions),etc.

Examples of sentences:

The equipment is functioning at optimum capacity

There are various types of equipment

The company has deployed state-of-the art machinery at its plant

The company imported various kinds of machinery

XVIII) Other notable points

Instead of saying a trend is noticed or a trend is observed, say a trend is evident or the data demonstrates that

XIX) Use shorter words with the same meaningi) Preferred words

In, not within unless necessary; use not usage, will not would, plans not is planning/has plans

XX) Use variety of words (look for correct synonyms that signify the correct meaning)

One should always seek to use a variety of words:

For example, for:

Set up, also use established, built, installed and constructed

Plans, also use intends, aims

Due to and owing to, also use, in response to, because of, and as a result of, to bring variety into your statements

XXI) Spellcheck

Gastrointestinal: one word

Microbiological: one word

Filtration not filteration

Aftermarket sales (aftermarket is one word)

After-sales service (after-sales is to be hyphenated)

Time frame

On-site

Supply chain

Value chain

Percent is one word; use % throughout document

Duty drawback: no hyphen, two separate words

Use breakdown instead of breakup; there is no hyphen

At least: two separate words

Up to: two separate words

Value chain: two separate words

Along with: two separate words

Brownfield: one word

Greenfield: one word

Lifespan: one word

XXII) Understanding the meaning of deliverables

Unmet needs

I go to Baristas and ask for a cold coffee with ice cream; instead the waiter brings me a hot coffee with milk; I go to the manager and complain. How would I express my unmet need?

Unmet needs can be technical, commercial or services and support-based

A customer is asked whether s/he is satisfied with his current supplier and whether s/he has any unmet needs.S/he says, s/he likes the quality of the product but prices are high, credit terms are not attractive since the company currently gives 14 days credit only whereas the customer would like 30 days at least. The contractual terms are not strict with respect to lead time so the supplier delays delivery on many occasions, primarily because the supplier is highly dependent on imports from its parent company in Germany. Further, the customer would prefer a supplier that is able to deliver locally manufactured products that are available within close vicinity to the customers plant since this would enable it to reduce inventory and also obtain customized products, with the potential of testing variations to ensure compatibility with its equipment and end-user needs and so on and so forth

How would you state the unmet needs?

Competitive prices, more attractive credit terms, timely delivery, availability of products from a supplier with local manufacturing facilities and so on and so forth

This is the base minimum requirement but not adequate to meet project deliverables

We need to give specific details for each customer/supplier to enable client to determine which clients to target and how to develop a customer-centric business strategy/where to attack each individual competitor (customer-centric approach may vary depending on customer/attack strategy will be different for each supplierthis must be described in the description of unmet needs)

Remember that unmet needs can be technical (quality, grade, compatibility with equipment, environmentally safe, safe for human health, etc), commercial or pertain to services and support and so on

XXIII) Source citation

Follow the Chicago style in general. See the link below:

http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html

For a book you will follow the following format:

Pollan, Michael. The Omnivores Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals. New York: Penguin, 2006

For a journal article you will follow the following format:

Kossinets, Gueorgi, and Duncan J. Watts. Origins of Homophily in an Evolving Social Network. American Journal of Sociology 115 (2009)

If you are focusing on the healthcare industry, identify the correct format followed by the medical profession

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