Question

Select the best sentence from among the given choices. (A) Writing a business plan is one of the most important steps in shaping an idea and putting it to it's first test. (B) Writing a business plan is one of the most important steps in shaping an idea and putting it to its first test. (C) Write a business plan is one of the most important steps in shaping an idea and putting it to it's first test. (D) Writing a business plan is one of the most important steps in shaping an idea and putting them to their first test.

Short answer

The best sentence from the given choices is: (B) Writing a business plan is one of the most important steps in shaping an idea and putting it to its first test.

Step-by-step solution

Analyze Sentence A

Sentence A: Writing a business plan is one of the most important steps in shaping an idea and putting it to it's first test. At first glance, sentence A seems to be grammatically correct, but there's a mistake in the usage of "it's." "It's" is a contraction of "it is" or "it has," while "its" is the possessive form of "it." In this context, we need the possessive form, not the contraction.

Analyze Sentence B

Sentence B: Writing a business plan is one of the most important steps in shaping an idea and putting it to its first test. Upon examination, sentence B appears to be grammatically correct, especially in its usage of "its" as the possessive form of "it." This sentence can be considered as a potential correct answer.

Analyze Sentence C

Sentence C: Write a business plan is one of the most important steps in shaping an idea and putting it to it's first test. There are two issues in sentence C. First, the verb "write" should be "writing" in order to match the noun form used in the rest of the sentence. Second, just like in sentence A, the usage of "it's" is incorrect; it needs to be "its."

Analyze Sentence D

Sentence D: Writing a business plan is one of the most important steps in shaping an idea and putting them to their first test. The main issue in sentence D is the mismatch between the singular subject ("an idea") and the plural pronouns "them" and "their." In this context, the pronouns should be singular to match the subject. #Conclusion# After analyzing each sentence, sentence B is the most grammatically correct and coherent choice among the four options.

Key concepts

Grammar and Writing Skills

Improving grammar and writing skills is essential for clear communication and constructing meaningful sentences within your writing. One common pitfall to watch out for is the misuse of contractions and possessive forms. As demonstrated in the problem provided, the contraction 'it's' (which stands for 'it is' or 'it has') is frequently confused with the possessive pronoun 'its', which indicates ownership.

Understanding the difference between these two is crucial, especially since possessive pronouns never have apostrophes. Always proofread your work to ensure that you are using the proper form. Additionally, maintaining verb consistency within a sentence aids in the coherence of ideas, as seen in the error correction from 'Write a business plan' to 'Writing a business plan'.

Business Plan Writing

When it comes to business plan writing, clarity and structure are key. This type of writing involves laying out a strategic plan for your business, including financial projections, marketing strategies, and organizational structure. It's imperative to articulate your ideas coherently, just as you would need to use the correct grammar to convey your plan's objectives effectively.

A well-crafted business plan not only serves as a guide for your business's path forward but also as a persuasive document for potential investors or stakeholders. Hence, each sentence should be carefully constructed to avoid any grammatical mistakes that could undermine the credibility of the plan.

Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns show ownership or belonging to a particular person or thing, like 'his', 'her', 'their', and the often confused 'its'. Contrary to possessive nouns (e.g., 'Sara's book'), possessive pronouns do not include an apostrophe. One must ensure that these pronouns agree in number with the nouns they refer to; 'their' should not be used when referring to a singular noun such as 'an idea'.

Learning the correct use of possessive pronouns enhances your writing, making it more precise and avoiding ambiguity. Remembering this rule can help prevent the common mistake found in sentence D of the exercise, where the pronouns 'them' and 'their' incorrectly refer to 'an idea', a singular noun.