Officials are banned from calling each other by vulgar titles like "boss," "dude" and "brother" in a circular issued by the Guangdong Provincial Communist Party discipline watchdog, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday.

The vulgar manner by which officials address each other damages intra-Party democracy, hinders their image as public servants and does not live up to the principles of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the government, the provincial CPC commission for discipline inspection said.

The circular seeks to curb "bureaucratic sectarianism and gang-like style," as commission officials insist the way officials address each other is directly related to the effectiveness and unity of Party members.

The latest nomenclature shakeup follows an array of similar circulars issued recently in different places asking officials to rid themselves of the four official undesirable work styles of formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism and extravagance, all part of the new leadership's campaign  to build closer ties with the people.

The provincial committee of the Communist Youth League of China in Yunnan Province  recently ordered its officials to address their colleague by name or use the term "comrade."

A regulation proposed in late February bans officials of Pengshan county, Sichuan Province, from putting their hands behind their back or pointing their fingers while talking to residents.

It also pointed out "I don't know" and "don't ask me" are unacceptable responses to residents' questions.