Sometime a mere  slip of word or two may put you in a very embarrassing position. I learnt it hard way, when I was posted in a place called Missamari(Assam), It so happned that for a short duration, our Higher HQ had to move out on field exercise. The area where the HQ was to move was in the general proximity of our Unit, and therefore the responsibility to look after the adminitration of Officers in the HQ obviously came on us. So one fine morning my Commanding Officer called me and tasked me to look for a probabale place for establishing Officers Mess for the Officers of HQ
      I knew about one Nurshing Officers Mess building which was not being used for many years in the station. It was a nice building requiring few touches. My CO liked the idea and we took up a case for taking over the building for the duration of exercise.  The same was approved by the appropriate authority  and I was asked by my CO to write a letter to Chief Matron in the Military Hospital for handing over the building for our use. So I proceeded and wrote a request to Chief Matron in the Hospital. It read something like this;
              Madam,
                     With refernce to our request vide our letter No -- dated--, it is requested that your Nurshing Officers Mess be handed over to the undersigned at the earliest. The same will be used by the Officers of HQ--- for the duration of---days.

       So next day  I visited Chief Matron for taking over the building. She looked at me with a strange face and showed me the letter of request and asked if I had signed the letter.  "Of course madam, I have signed it, is there something wrong?"was my innocent reply. " You better read it to me right now here", she insisted. Puzzled, I obliged and read the letter to her. it read like this ;
              Madam,
                     With reference to our request vide our leter No -- dated---, it is requested that your Nurshing Officers be handed over to the undersigned. same will be used by the officers of HQ --- for the duration of ___ days.
      To my horror I realised what I blunder I had committed. My clerk had omitted the word "MESS" from the complete name of "Nurshing Officers Mess", thereby changing its complete meaning. And I just signed it without noticing this error. It was a herculian task to pacify her. It soon became talk of town and no prices for guessing the comments I received from my colleagues and seniors with note of sarcasm and wink on their faces..
    So friends!!!! read carefully before putting your sign..