Most often the word traditional is used when conventional is the proper word. In fact, the confusion of the words conventional and traditional, and their subsequent misuse is so common that it wouldn't occur to most people to check a dictionary. Here are their meanings:

TRADITIONAL: the handing down of customs, beliefs, statements from generation to generation

CONVENTIONAL: conforming to accepted standards, common, ordinary rather than different or original

As you see, the two words are very different in meaning, and cannot be interchanged.

RAPPORT and REPORT have become hopelessly muddled.

REPORT is generally pronounced and used correctly. It is an account or statement describing in detail an event, situation, or the like, usually as the result of observation, inquiry or mathematical figures. It is pronounced ree-PORT.

However, RAPPORT is now frequently pronounced half-way between the two words! What Im hearing more and more often is ree-POR. Wrong!

RAPPORT is a French word, and is usually given an Anglicized French pronunciation, which means that we say the R the way wed say it in run--your everyday American R. (The French have a back-in-the-throat R sound which is difficult for most English speakers, and we do not need to try to duplicate it.) Here in America it is pronounced rah-POOR. The T is silent.

Fortunately, it is only the pronunciation which is amiss. People usually use the word correctly--to mean a harmonious or sympathetic relationship or connection between people.

Favorite utterances for those people who have a strong opinion on a subject are as follows: As a matter of fact In point of fact The truth is The fact is The truth of the matter is Before you use these hackneyed phrases, you might consider that truth and fact are seldom that. Far more often, they are simply opinion. These phrases add unnecessary verbiage without adding substance, and they weaken rather than strengthen your point.

Favorite Little Verbosities:

At this point in time Better: At this point or At this time

On a daily basis Better: every day; daily; or that good old unambiguous wordNOW!

Well, I mean you know This is a meaningless phrase. Please weed it out of your language. I mean You mean what? If you mean something, say it! you know What am I supposed to know? Tell me!

Remember, Sydney J. Harris, journalist (1917-86) said, The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows.

Let your message shine with the clarity of sunlight!

Carole McMichaels

If this is to be a true Bio, it must be in first person singular, so here I am, giving you all my "Singular I's". My life has been long, unconventional, exciting and filled with music, my first love and my first career.

Were it not for an absence of current rules and regulations, I would not be here at all. You see, my father was my mother's cello teacher--a horrible no-no in today's school world. They were married in the Interlachen Music Camp where my father taught trumpet and conducting.

As a child I gave many recitals, usually the first half on piano, the last half on violin. I loved it, but would have preferred (though I didn't know it at the time) music written by live people rather than by dead white men. Still my preference.

A favorite past-time of my four-year's-younger brother and me was to sing rounds a half-step apart. Great ear training for the contemporary music in which I later specialized! Playing hours of orchestral and chamber music--and kick-the-can, swimming, reading and traveling rounded out my childhood activities. A happy childhood!

As an adult I migrated to New York City where my professional life took different turns. I stopped the violin in favor of accompanying instrumental and vocal recitals. Then, because of injuries, I did a stint as a Broadway dancer--and finally ended up as a classical singer. Working with Leonard Bernstein for his time as conductor of the New York Philharmonic was an exhilarating experience.

At the time, 12-tone music was the be-all and end-all of the New York music scene; singers who could sing these beasts were few and far between. However, because I had perfect pitch and a strong instrumental background, I had a fertile field for my interests and abilities.

For variety I sang on cruise ships, did musical comedy, an occasional substitute job as organist in some of the large churches (a total thrill!) Did a bit of folk dancing on Puerto Rican TV, some pretty humorous modeling jobs, and set up the first audio language program in Tehran, Iran.

I have a lovely daughter, compassionate and creative.

For the last thirty years I've been a hypnotherapist, working with individuals and presenting workshops on a variety of topics. My passion is teaching!

Now I specialize in helping performers and public speakers prepare their presentations; using Energy Psychology, we permanently jettison their stage fright. Very interesting and gratifying work!

And I write.