(This article has been updated on the occasion of the ongoing Philippine Book Festival 2024 at the World Trade Center Manila, Pasay City, Phlippines, from April 25-28. Literary enthusiasts, students, families, and the general public are invited to the festival that features the best of Philippine books and periodicals along with workshops, exhibits, and various other activities. Entrance is free.)When Jose Carillo’s English-language services company ran a want ad for editors sometime in 2003, close to 100 applicants applied by e-mail. Practically all of them had at least an AB degree in English, mass communication, or the social sciences; three were magna cum laudes and six cum laudes; and 10 even had Master’s degrees. Disconcertingly, however, most of their job application letters were worded and constructed in unbelievably strange, convoluted, stilted English like the one that's reproduced below verbatim:
“Dear Sir/Madam:
“Greetings in Peace!
“Responding with utmost immediacy to your job opportunity ad published on January 6, ____ in the __________, I wish to inform you of my fervor interest in applying for the position of Editor. I am an AB graduate of the University of ______ with distinct recognition as a leader and achiever in the field of debating and as editor-in-chief of the student publication, journals, and other newsletters of the academe.
[The applicant then gives a glowing three-paragraph work experience description.]
“For your evaluation, I am enclosing my résumé as an attachment as a first step in exploring the possibilities of employment in your client’s organization. I would appreciate hearing from you soon.
“Thank you for your consideration and God Bless.” In his book
English Plain and Simple whose third updated edition went off the press last September, Jose Carillo says the English of such job application letters is obviously not the English to use when you want to present yourself in the most favorable way to a prospective employer.
He says: “The truth is that many of us who write in English distrust our own ability to present ourselves in a good light. No matter how educated or experienced we are, we often instinctively assume the persona and voice of someone else when we sit down to write. We take refuge in some pseudo-legal mumbo-jumbo that we think will impress our reader or listener.
“And once we get started in this legal-sounding language, we get snared and become addicted to it. Instead of writing as we would talk, we habitually grasp at these arcane words and phrases in the mistaken belief that like some mantra, they will miraculously make things happen for us.”
Carillo’s book
English Plain and Simple, which won the National Book Award from the Manila Critics Circle upon its publication in 2005, makes every effort to address this very serious and embarrassing communication inadequacy. It provides systematic but easy-to-follow instructions in English writing that students and teachers alike need to continually develop so they can communicate their thoughts and ideas clearly, simply, and confidently to particular audiences.
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English Plain and Simple
in its third updated edition and Jose Carillo's earlier book The 10 Most Annoying English Grammar Errors"
are available at Manila Times Booth #P6 of the Philippine Book Festival 2024, World Trade Center, Pasay City, Philippines, from April 25-28, 2024. For volume orders of 50 copies or more, call the Manila Times Publishing Corp. at Tel. 02-8524-5664 to 67 locals 117 and 222, or 099855388871. Copies can also be ordered for direct delivery to you by Lazada and Shopee.
