One of the reasons I like to order things online is that it cuts out the awkward miscommunication that often happens over the phone when you’re conveying detailed information. Invariably, when I’m giving my email address or some other information to someone, I have to resort to using the “D as in Dog” system to make sure that certain letters come through clearly.

I’ve never mastered this system, and I often feel embarrassed when I spontaneously grab a descriptive word from the ether to explain a given letter, since I know the person on the other end almost certainly knows the “real” way to do it.

Starting in 2015, this is no longer a concern for me, since I keep this handy reference available whenever I’m on the phone and need to give information. With this in hand, I feel armed to confidently communicate even the most perplexing combinations of vowels and consonants- maybe even good enough to bust through the challenges associated with heavy accents.

If you’re like me and haven’t come across this little trick, I hope it proves as comforting to you as it does to me.

Happy New Year, everyone!