Rules for writers, Tenth edition - Diana Hacker, Nancy Sommers 2021

Avoid most euphemisms and doublespeak
Choose appropriate language
Clarity

Euphemisms — words or phrases substituted for words thought to sound harsh or ugly — are sometimes appropriate. We may use euphemisms out of concern for someone’s feelings. Telling parents, for example, that their daughter is “unmotivated” is more sensitive than saying she’s lazy. Tact or politeness, then, can occasionally justify euphemisms, but use them sparingly. Many euphemisms are needlessly evasive or even deceitful.

The term doublespeak applies to any deliberately evasive or deceptive language, including euphemisms. Doublespeak is especially common in politics and business. Torture is described as enhanced interrogation, for example, and downsizing really means firing or laying off employees.

EXERCISE 17-1

Edit the following sentences to eliminate jargon, euphemisms, and doublespeak. You may need to make substantial changes in some sentences. Possible revisions appear in the back of the book.

a. In my youth, my family was under the constraints of difficult financial circumstances.

b. In order that I may increase my expertise in the area of delivery of services to clients, I feel that participation in this conference will be beneficial.

c. I am between jobs because my company downsized last fall.

d. Government-sanctioned investigations into the continued value of after-school programs indicate a perceived need in the public realm at large.

e. Let’s do a deep dive into the numbers and notify all stakeholders of our findings.

EXERCISE 17-2

Edit the following email message to eliminate jargon.

Dear Ms. Jackson:

We members of the Nakamura Reyes team value our external partnering arrangements with Creative Software, and I look forward to seeing you next week at the trade show in Fresno. Per Mr. Reyes, please let me know when you’ll have some downtime there so that he and I can conduct a strategizing session with you concerning our production schedule. It’s crucial that we all be on the same page re our 2023—2024 product release dates.

Before we have some face time, however, I have some findings to share. Our customer-centric approach to the new products will necessitate that user testing periods trend upward. The enclosed data should help you effectuate any adjustments to your timeline; let me know ASAP if you require any additional information to facilitate the above.

Before we convene in Fresno, Mr. Reyes and I will agendize any further talking points. Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,

Sylvia Nakamura