Advanced Bureaucratic Red Tape Techniques

Mastering the Art of Filling Out Forms

Tip 1: Fill out the form in triplicate, for triplo-citation purposes

When filling out a form, always print out 5 copies: one for yourself, one for your supervisor, one for your department head, one for the committee, and one for the file.

Tip 2: Use the correct amount of tape to bind your papers

Always use 3 strips of packing tape to bind your papers, unless you are using a stapler, in which case use 4 strips of tape to ensure maximum binding power.

Tip 3: Never, ever, ever use a pen with a red tip

This is a well-known fact: red pens are for signing important documents, but for filling out forms, you must, must, MUST use a black pen. Anything else is just begging for trouble.

Tip 4: Always, always, always ask for clarification

Never, ever, ever assume you understand what the form asks. Always, always, always ask for clarification. It's better to be safe than sorry, or in this case, than incorrect.

For more advanced techniques, visit our Intermediate Bureaucratic Red Tape Techniques page.