"In today's marketplace there is no such thing as standing still. You are either moving ahead or falling behind." So says Jo Peay, International President of the International Association of Administrative Professionals. She has written a very interesting article that appears in OfficePro magazine, and you can check out the pdf flier of that article here.

First organised and celebrated in 1952, Admin Professionals Week, as it is now known, has grown to be one of the world's most celebrated workplace observances. It provides a great opportunity for the business world to recognise and show appreciation for the invaluable business contributions of office support staff.

The IAAP uses this international publicity opportunity to increase awareness of admin professionals contributions in the workplace and to promote the value of continuing education and training.

Learn more about Admin Professionals week by visiting the very interesting and comprehensive website of the the International Association of Administrative Professionals.

If you are a secretary or admin support staff, why not ask your boss to treat you for secretaries week? Join my next public workshop Success Skills for Secretaries and Support Staff in Singapore on 4 May. Check out the pdf flier here, or call Sam Loo on 6376 2018 for further details.

Jargon can seriously get in the way of business if no-one understands what people are talking about, or what they are writing about!

I'm sure you have often come across messages that leave you feeling very confused, right? This problem happens when people use pompous or long-winded wording and phrasing to try to impress rather than to communicate. Yet really, the end result is that they do neither of these things!

Using jargon can result in one of two things - the reader will get bored and stop reading, or will spend a great deal of time trying to figure out what you meant four sentences ago!

Do you know any writers who sometimes concentrate so hard on what they want to say that they become absorbed in their impressive flow of wonderful words instead of talking in everyday language that the reader will understand?

Take a look at these before and after examples found on the www.plainenglish.co.uk website:

Before
If there are any points on which you require explanation or further particulars we shall be glad to furnish such additional details as may be required by telephone.

After
If you have any questions please call.

Before
High-quality learning environments are a necessary precondition for facilitation and enhancement of the ongoing learning process.

After
Children need good schools if they are to learn properly.

To learn more about how you can do more KISSing (Keep It Short and Simple) follow the link.

Thanks to everyone who has written to say how much you enjoy my A-Z of Bloopers, Blunders, Common Errors and Clichés. Sorry for not featuring more in the last two newsletters.

Here are the G's and H's.

Gobbledegook
Gobbledegook is writing that is bombastic, pretentious, stuffy and long-winded. It is writing that attempts to sound official or formal. Take a look at this letter from an accountant - it is full of gobbledygook. Can you spot all the long-winded words and phrases, all the gobbledegook?

Dear Mr Johnson

We have received your email of even date.

For the audit of Turner Communications Pte Ltd, kindly furnish us with a copy of the company's balance sheet, expenses statements and all the invoices/bills paid by the holding company at your earliest convenience.

We will revert to you on the treatment of the intangible assets and the financials of Turner Communications Inc as soon as possible. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards
Bernard Williams

Goodself
This is so old-fashioned. Please do not use this word in your writing.

Grammar
Too many people still spell this word as grammer. There is no such word as grammer - it's grammar.

Hereby and Herewith
These are old-fashioned clichés that we should not use in the 21st Century.

However
However - when the meaning is 'nevertheless' - can be used at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a sentence. It's a good word to help you illustrate a contrast in thought. Note that commas are usually needed. For example:

I rarely work on weekends. However, last weekend was an exception.

I rarely work on weekends. Last weekend, however, was an exception.

I rarely work on weekends. Last weekend was an exception, however.

When you use however to mean 'in whatever way' or 'to whatever extent', note that it is one word, not two:

However you advise her, she will do exactly as she pleases.

Do you want to learn more about the A-Z of Bloopers, and more about KISSing - in other words, how to write in a modern, simple and effective way befitting the 21st Century? Then why not do what the participants in this photograph did in March? They all joined one of my public workshops organised by Learner's Choice International.

In April I'm looking forward to meeting some old and new friends in Singapore at my 2-day workshop Power Up Your Business Writing Skills on 20-21 April. For more details please contact Sam Loo at Learner's Choice on 6376 2018 or visit www.learners-choice.com.

Thanks to Marcel Holman from 4Hoteliers.com for his recent message. He said:

"Yesterday I picked up one of your books (Model Business Letters, Emails and Other Business Documents 6th edition) from Singapore airport and have almost finished it during my flight!! I found it to be extremely helpful, refreshing at times and a great help for my day-to-day business."

Thanks Marcel - glad you like it!

PPS: You may reprint this newsletter or forward it to your customers and colleagues. However please keep this copyright and contact information intact:

Copyright Shirley Taylor 2005. Shirley Taylor is author of several popular books on effective communication and business writing. She lives in Singapore and works as an international trainer, seminar leader, professional writer and conference speaker.