In business messages, using terms such as "if," "hope," and "trust" is
A)usually a bad idea since it takes away from the writer's credibility.
B)a good way to show your modesty.
C)common courtesy.
D)acceptable for very formal contexts.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A)On their own, the words "if," "hope," and "trust" are acceptable. However, when used too frequently they tend to give a message a highly "conditional" tone, suggesting that you are "hoping" that events will turn out well rather than being confident that things will turn out well.

In Business Messages, Using Terms Such as "If," "Hope," and "Trust