A guide to “weasel words” & how to wave goodbye to them for good!👋
You’ve probably heard the phrase “to weasel out of” something.
It means avoiding responsibility by being dishonest or wily.
Weasels have become associated with deception, perhaps because, despite their cuddly appearance, they’re actually vicious predators.
Weasel words, therefore, give a false impression without telling an outright lie. Advertisers and politicians regularly use them when they want to emphasize (or leave out!) certain details.
Weasel words sound wishy-washy.
They avoid saying anything definitively.
These include words like...
"May", "maybe", "hope", "wish", "try", "but", "perhaps", and "strive".
...and similar qualifiers that create enough wiggle room for a rhino!🦏
The thing is, by using these words, you might not be trying to mislead your readers, but they can give an impression that you're uncertain about what you're saying, or worse, can make you seem insincere.
That doesn’t mean you should never use any of the mentioned words.
But before you do, ask yourself if they’re necessary.
Do you use weasel words in your writing? Which one creeps in most regularly? Let’s chat in the comments!
