II. You can further soften the effect of bad news by placing it in an introductory subordinate clause that
begins with although, since, or because. The emphasis in a sentence is on the independent clause.
Instead of saying We cannot serve you on a credit basis, try Although we cannot serve you on a credit
basis, we invite you to take advantage of our cash discounts and sale prices. Revise the following so that
the bad news is de-emphasized in a dependent clause that precedes an independent clause.
2 pts each.
1. We are sorry to report that we are unable to ship your complete order at this point in time. However,
we are able to send two corner workstations now; you should receive them within five days.
2. Unfortunately, we no longer print a complete catalog. However, we now offer all of our catalog
choices at our Web site, which is always current.
3. We appreciate your interest in our organization, but we are unable to extend an employment offer to
you at this time.
