A weasel word, or anonymous authority, is an informal term for words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague or ambiguous claim has been communicated. Examples include the phrases "some people say", … See more The expression weasel word may have derived from the egg-eating habits of weasels. An article published by the Buffalo News attributes the origin of the term to William Shakespeare's plays Henry V See more • Concept creep • Corporate jargon • Essentially contested concept • Filler (linguistics) See more • Pei, Mario (1978) Weasel Words: The Art of Saying What You Don't Mean. New York: Harper & Row. Classic work by the well-known Columbia University linguist. • Jason, Gary (1988) "Hedging as a Fallacy of Language", Informal Logic X.3, Fall 1988 See more A 2009 study of Wikipedia found that most weasel words in it could be divided into three main categories: 1. Numerically vague expressions (for example, "some people", "experts", "many", "evidence suggests") 2. Use of the passive voice to … See more In Report on Unidentified Flying Objects (1956), US Air Force Captain Edward J. Ruppelt described astronomer Dr. J. Allen Hynek's report on the See more Webwhat is a weasel word a word used in order to evade or retreat from a direct statement or position. what does help mean aid or assist what is help considered the great qualifier how is like the same as help it is a qualifier how is like different from help it …
Weasel Words - Assignments - WRT-101 - Bergen - StuDocu
Webweasel noun [ C ] us / ˈwi·zəl / a small mammal with reddish brown fur and a long body, which feeds on small animals such as mice and birds (Definition of weasel from the … Webweasel: [noun] any of various small slender active carnivorous mammals (genus Mustela of the family Mustelidae, the weasel family) that are able to prey on animals (such as rabbits) larger than themselves, are mostly … properties to rent in the cotswolds
Get Rid of Those Pesky "Weasel Words" AMA - amanet.org
WebSep 23, 2003 · One of our defects as a nation is a tendency to use what have been called ''weasel words.'' When a weasel sucks eggs the meat is sucked out of the egg. If you use a ''weasel word'' after another there is nothing left of the other. Theodore Roosevelt Eggs, Meat, Use 16 Copy quote Show source I've met an attractive weasel or two in my time. WebLike weasel words and crutch words, filter words tend to make writing weaker. Take a look at this filtered sentence: Sam heard the rumble of thunder in the distance. In this sentence, “heard” is the filter word, and Sam is the character we’re filtering through. Cut them both and the sentence becomes: Thunder rumbled in the distance. WebWeasel words get their name from the way weasels eat the eggs they find in nests of other animals. A weasel will make a small hole in the egg, suck out the insides, then place the egg back in the nest. Only when the egg is examined closely is it found to be hollow. That’s the way it is with weasel words in advertising: Examine weasel words ... properties to rent in the hill