LET'S COMMUNICATE
Agriculture Communication Newsletter
November 2003, No. 95

CONTENTS

WRITE THE RIGHT WORD
NEW IN THE STAFF RESOURCE LIBRARY

 

WRITE THE RIGHT WORD

We hear them fairly often, but they're not even real words.

Orientate -- Yes, we offer orientation for new staff, but we orient them.

Irregardless -- It's simply regardless, meaning unmindful or in spite of everything, not the double negative.

And, as usual, here are a few errors that made it to print recently.

"The team will resign the All-Star pitcher." Usually a hyphen is needed only when the word re is being added to begins with the letter e. But in this example, to re-sign is means something much different than to resign, or to quit.

"Laura Waack of the Capital Journal in Pierre, South Dakota called last week." A second comma is always needed after names of states or nations used with city names, in this case, after South Dakota.

"It's been something of extreme value for librarians, people that do research." Some may argue that is technically OK, but who is preferred. Refer to people and animals with names as who and inanimate objects and animals without names as that.

"We can not provide these vital services without your help." Don't ask me why, but Mr. Webster or someone long ago decided that cannot, as one word rather than two, is the negative form of can.

NEW IN THE STAFF RESOURCE LIBRARY

Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable 2003, 137-page Book Cows, after you've seen one or two or 10, are boring. A Purple Cow, though... now that would be something. This book urges you to put a Purple Cow into everything you do to create something truly noticeable.

Developing the Leader Within You Workbook John C. Maxwell 2001, 250-page Book This workbook guides you through the practical, personal application of principles for inspiring, motivating and influencing others that are featured in the hardcover best-seller Developing the Leader Within You.

True Partnership: Revolutionary Thinking about Relating to Others Carl Zaiss 2002, 132-page Book Zaiss details the principles of true partnership: * Connecting: seeing ourselves as interdependent parts of the whole * Communicating: connecting to others through communication * Expanding: operating from a both/and mentality * Observing: relating to our world as observer-created.

Delivering Knock Your Socks Off Service, Revised Edition Kristin Anderson and Ron Zemke, American Management Association 1998,144-page Book Whether you're new to customer service or an old pro, what you do is more important to your organization than ever before. This books sets a baseline definition of exceptional customer service in a practical, useful and fun-to-read format.

101 Ways to Make Every Second Count: Time Management Tips and Techniques for More Success with Less Stress Robert W. Bly 1999, 186-page Book This book goes beyond the usual time-management books to bring you a broad range of strategies and tactics for more success with less stress... for getting more done in less time.

Tick Tock! Who Broke the Clock? Solving the Work-Life Balance Equation Warren "Trapper Woods, CSP, and William A. Guillory, Ph.D. 2003,107-page Book Realizing that your personal and work life are one, inseparable whole, this book guides you through a seven-step process for achieving the quality of life you desire and deserve. Dr. Guillory was a speaker at the 2003 Galaxy II conference in Salt Lake City.

Goal Setting for Results: Success Strategies for You and Your Organization Gary Ryan Blair 2003, 44-page Book This book offers goal-setting methods, insights and suggestions -- including exercises and checklists -- to those seeking to enhance their businesses and their careers.

Many other audio cassettes, books and videos are in the Staff Resource Library listing on the Web at http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/staffres/library/contents.htm . You're also welcome to stop by the Distribution Center in Morrill 10 to browse the shelves. Contact the Distribution Center at dctr@ndsuext.nodak.edu or call 231-7882 to check out materials.