What if I substitute DICTATION for INSTRUCTION?

[Tom]

Hello everybody

Is the given expression correct?

1- The servants are under direct dictation of my wife.

What if I substitute DICTATION for INSTRUCTION?

Thanks in advance

Tom

[Yankee]

Hi Tom

I would prefer "the supervision" or possibly "my wife's direct orders":
"The servants are under the direct supervision of my wife."

"Dictation" is not good at all .... unless you want to "play with the word" and try to make you wife sound like a despot or tyrant (dictator). And with the word "dictation" I would tend to think of a boss dictating a letter to his secretary or a teacher dictating a text to students for writing practice (e.g.). --- i.e., the listener has to write something down.

"Instruction" is better than "dictation", but awkward. Maybe you could write this instead:
"The servants receive instruction(s)* directly from my wife."

*Note*
I would understand a slight difference in meaning between "instruction" and "instructions" in this sentence:
- "instruction" would mean she tells the servants how to do everything.
- "instructions" would mean she tells the servants what to do, but not necessarily how to do it.

Amy
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