Starting a conversation with "I'm not an expert but..." or "It's just that..." can make you sound unsure of yourself and your experience.

20 years ago, friend was used as a noun, and profile meant a side view. Here are 20 words, the definitions of which have changed in the last two decades.

As the only business communication series with three distinct textbooks, the Bovée-Thill series offers you more choices for a better fit with your unique needs. No matter which Bovée and Thill title you choose, you can count on three enduring advantages.

First, this series has been leading the market with one innovation after another for more than three decades. Bovée & Thill have consistently led the way with every major revolution in business communication, starting with the shift from print to digital, followed by the growth of social media, the rise of mobile communication, and now the emergence of artificial intelligence and intelligent technology.

The digital transformation sweeping through business is creating a host of new communication tools and techniques that students will encounter during their job searches and in the workplace. Much of the new coverage in this text has necessarily focused on technology, but Bovée & Thill take the wide view of how employer expectations and contemporary practices continue to evolve. This also embraces developments ranging from ethics and etiquette to the shift toward a more casual tone in workplace writing.

Second, even as they evolve to align with changing business practices, Bovée and Thill texts maintain a solid foundation of communication skills. This approach starts with an efficient writing method that helps students build confidence while producing better writing in less time. The method is applied to every major type of business message and illustrated with numerous model documents that show students the specific writing choices that make messages effective or ineffective. These core writing skills are expanded with practical advice on communication topics that today’s employers view as critical, including collaboration, ethics and etiquette, diversity and inclusion, and the productive use of technology.

Third, Bovée & Thill textbooks are backed by an unmatched selection of resources for instructors and students, many of which were pioneered by the authors and remain unique in the field. All these resources are free to instructors and students, and many are available exclusively to Bovée & Thill adopters.

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This infographic gives you practical tips that will help you avoid plagiarism.

It's no secret that English is a confusing language. Here are the rules you're using wrong, how to fix them, and which ones you can ignore.

Today’s business audiences are much like pedestrians on busy streets. They are inundated with so many messages and so much noise that they can miss or ignore many of the messages intended for them. So how do you break through the barriers in reaching these audiences?

"Before you accidentally hurl an insult without even realizing, read up on these 20 offensive words and phrases."

Ethical communication includes all the information an audience needs to make an informed decision or take an informed stance on an issue and is not deceptive in any way. Whenever you communicate in business, you ask audiences to trust that you will provide information that is complete and true.

If you intentionally violate that trust, you have engaged in unethical communication. Unethical communication can take several forms: withholding information, distorting information, and plagiarizing. Note that some of these choices can also be illegal in certain circumstances.

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If you're smart, or at least want to sound smart, remember that some things are better left unsaid.

Look at this page on Pinterest to see if you can find your city among those listed.

Find every opportunity to delight your customers.

Here's a letter to instructors of business communication from Bovee and Thill: http://vid.us/utaexh.

"Business communication is a method of sharing information between staff, customers, outside companies, and investors. In fact, effective business communication is crucial for maintaining a successful business.

"There’s no way a business can function effectively without it. Incorporating steady and reliable communication methods with your workforce, suppliers, shareholders, and of course, your customers is essential."

With all due respect: strike these insincere aphorisms from your lexicon, or you'll be sorry at the end of the day. Thanks in advance!

"Have you ever heard someone say, "I was literally scared to death?" That's impossible because the dead can't talk. Even educated people make these common mistakes—make sure you know the real meaning of these words."

Next time you're pondering whether to use "who's" or "whose," we've got you covered."

"You're probably saying these things interchangeably."

Less or fewer, affect or effect—We rounded up the trickiest words and phrases of the English language and explain what you should actually be saying.

"Here are the surprising ways these words were meant to be pronounced."