Talk about confusing — two English words different only in that one has added an "s" at the end, yet the dictionary gives two entirely different meanings to the different spellings.

For example, take the following definitions from the New Oxford American Dictionary (on a Macintosh computer, you can find this in the Applications folder (Dictionary.app) and also in your Dashboard Widgets (Dictionary)):

communication |kəˌmyoōnəˈkā sh ən|

noun

1 the imparting or exchanging of information or news : direct communication between the two countries will produce greater understanding | at the moment I am in communication with London.

• a letter or message containing such information or news.

• the successful conveying or sharing of ideas and feelings : there was a lack of communication between Pamela and her parents.

• social contact : she gave him some hope of her return, or at least of their future communication.

2 ( communications) means of connection between people or places, in particular

• the means of sending or receiving information, such as telephone lines or computers : satellite communications | [as adj. ] a communications network.

• the means of traveling or of transporting goods, such as roads or railroads : a city providing excellent road and rail communications.

• [treated as sing. ] the field of study concerned with the transmission of information by various means.

What we have are two definitions. Definition one, communication, is defined as exchanging information, news, ideas and feelings. Writing a news story, writing a poem, making a PowerPoint, writing a script, and photographing an event are examples of communication. Definition two, communications, is defined as the means of sending or receiving information, such as telephone and computer networks, radio, and the like. Telephone systems, cell phone towers, shortwave radios, satellites, cable TV and computer networking are some examples of communications.

Many people do not know the difference, but as communication professionals, I believe we need to use and promote the proper terminology. It looks very unprofessional when you misspell the field you work in, and those outside professionals whom we are trying to partner with may have a negative impression of us based on one little letter: the letter "s."