Grammar Review: Noun Clauses, Formal Future & Stance Adverbials

• In advanced design leadership discussions in London or New York, precision is paramount. We review noun clauses, the formal future, and stance adverbials to communicate strategy with absolute authority.
• Category
• Structure
• Example
• Noun Clause
• What / Whether / The fact that
• What surprised the board in Boston was whether the design scaled.
• Formal Future
• be to / be slated to / be poised to
• The new branding is poised to launch in Manchester next week.
• Stance Adverbial
• Frankly / Ironically / Technically speaking
• Frankly, the initial prototype failed to impress the directors.
• Remember
• Use noun clauses as subjects or objects to frame complex strategic problems.
• Use formal future structures (be slated to, be poised to) for scheduled board milestones.
• Place stance adverbials at the beginning of sentences to signal your professional perspective.
• Examples
• What matters most to the executives in Chicago is how the architecture integrates.
• The design team is slated to present the revised board paper on Friday.
• Technically speaking, the interface complies with all regulatory standards in London.
• Common mistakes
• What worries the investors are whether the metrics will improve.
• What worries the investors is whether the metrics will improve.

Complete the sentences

• What concerns the executives in Austin (whether) ____ the new design system will reduce operational costs.
• The chief design officer (slated) ____ deliver the quarterly review in Seattle.
• (Frankly) ____ , the committee found the preliminary wireframes unconvincing.
• The London studio (poised) ____ unveil the updated digital platform next month.
• What disappointed the investors in Boston (fact) ____ the user testing lacked depth.
• (Ironically) ____ , the simplest interface generated the most complex user resistance.

Sources: photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels