Who wrote weasel words?
Who wrote weasel words?
Watson’s Dictionary Of Weasel Words.
What is the meaning of weasel words?
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.
Why do advertisers use weasel words?
Weasel words, or phrases, are used in marketing/advertising in order to avoid making a direct statement or promise. I.e. they are used as a way to say something that legally, or truthfully, cannot be said.
What are weasel words in writing?
Weasels are words that equivocate. They are vague qualifiers like generally, most, and probably that weaken your writing. Writers use weasel words to avoid making direct statements. The term is not new.
Is weasel a derogatory term?
A weasel is a sneaky and sly person. You can call someone who cheats and lies a weasel, or you can use the word literally, to refer to the small furry mammal called a weasel. The furry kind of weasel is known for its short legs, long neck, and musky smell.
Is should a weasel word?
Parsing sentences with “should” typically reveals there is none other than the writer’s subjective and vague preference. “Should is a Weasel Word” is a better sentence than “You Shouldn’t Use Should”.
How do you stop weasel words?
Weasel words weaken prose….I’ve italicized the weasel words in these examples to make them stand out.
- Delete the weasel word and see if the sentence is still true.
- Make a more specific statement.
- Quantify.
- Use expressive verbs.
- Rewrite based on what you actually believe.
Is fast a weasel word?
Adjectives are a mixed bag — some, like “female”, “upper-middle class,” and “mobile” have a degree of precision and meaning, while others, like “fast” or “cheap” are weasel words that have no definition.
Can weasels be pets?
Weasels are small, slender creatures that range in size from six to nine inches long. Weasels are wild, meaning that they are not typically kept as pets. These mischievous animals live in burrows similar to prairie dogs.
Why is being called a weasel a bad thing?
You can call someone who cheats and lies a weasel, or you can use the word literally, to refer to the small furry mammal called a weasel. The furry kind of weasel is known for its short legs, long neck, and musky smell. In fact, the word’s Proto-Germanic origin wisand carries the meaning of a stinky animal.
What is another word for weasel words?
Synonyms for Weasel words in Free Thesaurus. Antonyms for Weasel words. 9 synonyms for weasel word: ambiguity, equivocation, equivoque, euphemism, hedge, prevarication, shuffle, tergiversation, waffle.
What is a weasel phrase?
A ‘weasel phrase’ is a predicate that sets up the material that immediately follows it as a powerful suggestion. When a particular type of sentence is constructed one of these such phrases, a sentence which refers to the immediate environment of the listener (especially to the physical being or ongoing activities of the listener), it can offer communication on more than one level since there is:
What is a weasel insult?
According to Daniel Defoe also, meeting a weasel is a bad omen. In English-speaking areas, weasel can be an insult, noun or verb, for someone regarded as sneaky, conniving or untrustworthy. Similarly, ” weasel words ” is a critical term for words or phrasing that are vague, misleading or equivocal.