Dear all,

I need to know which term is best to print on a document (or a booklet) to notify readers that the document is used only within the organization which publishes that document.

a. Internal use only
b. Intra-office use only
c. Limited use only
d. (Other suggestions please)

Thank you so much.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tony C,

I think the correct term is interoffice use only, Tony.

I would have thought that 'intra-office' would be correct, to mean within the one office.

However, Richard is right: 'interoffice' is the word you want. Actually, I couldn't find 'intra-office' in any dictionary.

Here's the definition from the Merriam-Webster Unabridged:

Main Entry: in·ter·office
Function: adjective
Etymology: inter- + office
: existing between the offices of an organization

Citation format for this entry:

"interoffice." Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. Merriam-Webster, 2002. http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com (22 Oct. 2009).
_______

I think, though, that 'internal use only' is commonly used and understood.

Thank you, Richard and Rachel.

Interoffice Use Only is the correct term for the organization with many offices.

And if a school, a private school, a faculty or a language center publishes a book for its own students only, then what word should I use?

Many thanks.

I believe the correct term in that case is intramural, Tony.

quote:

I believe the correct term in that case is intramural, Tony.

Wow! What a word, Richard!

quote:

I would have thought that 'intra-office' would be correct, to mean within the one office.

Interesting use of the set expression I would have thought, Rachel.


And thanks, Tony, for posting this question.

Thank you so much, Richard. What a nice word it is!

So for the phrase, it would read like For Intramural Use Only .

Once again, many thanks.

Thank you for sharing your thought, mehrdadthebigboss.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tony C,

You know, it's really funny, Tony. The adjective I've given you, intramural, is accurate for the idea you have. It's from two Latin words, intra ("within," "inside") and muri ("walls").

But I've never seen or heard the adjective used in a phrase like "For intramural use only." This just isn't a collocation you'll find. Perhaps you should stick with something more familiar like For internal use only.

There are lots of things in language learning that get very complicated, aren't there?

Once again, thank you for your very kind help, Richard.