From Booklist
This latest edition of Merriam-Webster's Secretarial Handbook makes the leap of time and technology since the previous edition published in 1983 and remains useful for office professionals at all levels with its treatment of business form and function as well as guidance on current office technologies.Chapters dealing with computers, word processors, and office equipment have been rewritten. Emphasis has shifted as subjects have diminished in importance; for example, shorthand skills have been replaced by dictating machines, the word processor has updated the typewriter, various methods of office copying are replaced by the photocopier, and the assumption that men are the employers and women the secretaries no longer exists. A quick-reference guide directing the reader to frequently used sections appears on the front endpapers, the contents are noted more distinctly, and a detailed index enhances the ease of use of the work.New chapters address business etiquette, including issues of male-female interaction in the workplace, and desktop publishing. A basic guide to grammar and the use of language has been revised and expanded and now includes a section on specific problems of word usage.The Professional Secretaries International Complete Office Handbook [RBB O 15 92] offers guidelines for setting standards and developing and maintaining an effective electronic office. While the titles both complement and overlap, the emphasis of Merriam-Webster's Secretarial Handbook is as a guide to office communications, whether written, verbal, or electronic. Libraries should replace the earlier edition.


From Book News, Inc.
Substantially revised edition of Webster's Secretarial Handbook, 2d ed. (1983). This reference covers the whole range of activities and equipment connected with secretarial or administrative assistant jobs. The scope and contents are similar to Prentice-Hall's Complete Secretary's Handbook; the differences are primarily in style, Merriam-Webster's being somewhat more deliberate and methodical (and also physically lighter and easier to handle). Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

An authoritative reference source for today's office professional. Covers all aspects of office management. Includes an introduction to computers and a guide to business English. Provides abundant practical examples.

FROM THE CRITICS

BookList

This latest edition of Merriam-Webster's Secretarial Handbook makes the leap of time and technology since the previous edition published in 1983 and remains useful for office professionals at all levels with its treatment of business form and function as well as guidance on current office technologies. Chapters dealing with computers, word processors, and office equipment have been rewritten. Emphasis has shifted as subjects have diminished in importance; for example, shorthand skills have been replaced by dictating machines, the word processor has updated the typewriter, various methods of office copying are replaced by the photocopier, and the assumption that men are the employers and women the secretaries no longer exists. A quick-reference guide directing the reader to frequently used sections appears on the front endpapers, the contents are noted more distinctly, and a detailed index enhances the ease of use of the work. New chapters address business etiquette, including issues of male-female interaction in the workplace, and desktop publishing. A basic guide to grammar and the use of language has been revised and expanded and now includes a section on specific problems of word usage. The Professional Secretaries International Complete Office Handbook ["RBB" O 15 92] offers guidelines for setting standards and developing and maintaining an effective electronic office. While the titles both complement and overlap, the emphasis of Merriam-Webster's Secretarial Handbook is as a guide to office communications, whether written, verbal, or electronic. Libraries should replace the earlier edition.

Booknews