All written communication composed by a company officer must be:

• A. informal and casual in appearance
• B. accurate and professional in appearance
• C. able to pass the five-step ethics check
• D. Based on personal realizations

Answer: (B)

Written communication by a company officer must be accurate and professional in appearance. When an officer writes, they represent the department, so the message needs to be reliable, well-sourced, and free of errors. Accuracy matters because incorrect information can lead to unsafe actions, confusion, or legal exposure, and it supports clear decision-making and accountability. Professional appearance matters because documents convey authority and credibility; proper formatting, clear language, correct grammar, official templates or letterhead, and a formal tone show that the information is trustworthy and that the department upholds consistent standards. Informal and casual language undermines authority, and relying on personal realizations rather than policies, procedures, or facts introduces bias and unreliability. There is no requirement for a five-step ethics check to determine the quality of official communications.