Mar
11

Words and phrases

Filed Under (Skills) by on 11-03-2010 and tagged

This week Tribune Co. CEO Randy Michaels, got down and dirty in the editing process.

He issued a memo of 119 words and phrases he no longer wanted used on the company’s radio station, WGN.

It really is hard to argue with him over the use of most of these trite and useless phrases. I wonder, however, why it took the CEO to step in and make the language of the journalists concise and precise. Isn’t that the job of the front-line editor?

My pet peeves on the list:

  • Utilize instead of use
  • Completely destroyed
  • Eye Rack or Eye Ran
  • Literally

We can all be better writers and journalists by paying attention to our words and remembering our job is to be precise and concise.

Flee” meaning “run away” “Good” or “bad” news “Laud” meaning “praise”
“Seek” meaning “look for” “Some” meaning “about” “Two to one margin” . . .“Two to one” is a ratio, not a margin.A margin is measured in points. It’s not a ratio.
“Yesterday” in a lead sentence “Youth” meaning “child” 5 a.m. in the morning
After these commercial messages After the break Aftermath
All of you Allegations Alleged
Area residents As expected At risk
At this point in time Authorities Auto accident
Bare naked Behind bars Behind closed doors
Behind the podium (you mean lectern) Best kept secret Campaign trail
Clash with police Close proximity Complete surprise
Completely destroyed, completely abolished, completely finished or any other completely redundant use Death toll Definitely possible
Diva Down in (location) Down there
Dubbaya when you mean double you Everybody(when referring to the audience) Eye Rack or Eye Ran
False pretenses Famed Fatal death
Fled on foot Folks Giving 110%
Gunman, especially lone gunman Going forward Guys
Hunnert when you mean hundred Icon In a surprise move
In the wake of (unless it’s a boating story) In other news In harm’s way
Informed sources say . . . Incarcerated Killing spree
Legendary Literally Lend a helping hand
Lucky to be alive Manhunt Marred
Mother of all (anything) Medical hospital Motorist
Mute point. (It’s moot point, but don’t say that either) Near miss No brainer
Our top story tonight Officials Out in (location)
Out there Over in Pedestrian
Perfect storm Perished Perpetrator
Plagued Really Reeling
Reportedly Seek Senseless murder
Shots rang out Shower activity Sketchy details
Some (meaning about) Some of you Sources say . . .
Speaking out Stay tuned The fact of the matter
Those of you Thus Time for a break
To be fair Torrential rain Touch base
Under fire Under siege Underwent surgery
Undisclosed Undocumented alien Unrest
Untimely death Up in (location) Up there
Utilize (you mean use) Vehicle We’ll be right back
Welcome back We’ll be back Welcome back everybody
Went terribly wrong We’re back White stuff
World class You folks


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