I love words and what you can do with them but I am sure grammar purists will find errors in this blog. In fact, I am suddenly uncertain about each word I type while I think about the purists.

Words can convey personality, passion, joy, and even boredom and insecurity. It is completely up to you although we have a habit of picking up trend words and jargon. I had never heard of a furphy before Paul Keating it uttered it in the 70s. In the following 10 years there were furphies everywhere.

That's okay because language continually changes. There is a time and place for all these changes. However, avoid using jargon and buzz words in your job applications and interviews, even if you need to be creative. There is nothing less than creative than when everyone repeats the same creativity.

In your application letter and resume avoid using the following words. For most there isn't a problem with the words, except we overuse some to the extent that they become meaningless, but that they can convey that we're not all that sure about our statements.

• I believe [think, feel, hope, etc]

Just go right ahead and say it - I am. After all, you are the one writing so it is your belief, thought, feeling. It is a given. Putting this statement ahead of what you write gives the impression that there are words missing like 'I know no-one else thinks this but…'. The other side is it uses up valuable space  for saying pertinent statements.

• Never

Really? Can you be absolutely sure that you have never …..

• Always

Ditto.

• Went

This is just laziness, as are go and got. Think about what you did. Did you fly to or did you study at university?

• Did

See above.

• That

Years ago I did a media writing course. We were taught that most times which is best replaced by that. I question whether we still need it at all. Most times, it is unnecessary. Read aloud any sentence with that [or which] in it. Read it again without that or which. 9 times out of 10 it will still work. My other pet hate with that is when using it talking about people. "It was Jill's mother that drove me to school." Jill is a not a thing - so say who .

• -ing words

Be careful how you use them. The occasional -ing word is fine but when you use them too often all the zing disappears. Your resume or letter becomes boring.

• Much

To say something is much clearer or much better is redundant simply because the -er on words usually means 'more of' and so you are essentially saying betterer. AH!

• Very

This is like much only you can be more specific with replacements to give more concise information.

Keeping these words in mind as you prepare your next job application will ensure your message is clearer.