Choose words carefully

Writers have 500,000 words to choose from, with new words springing up almost daily from technology and slang, constantly adding to our vernacular.

With such a vast selection, reporters need to choose their words carefully to convey appropriate meaning while avoiding six-syllable words that may confuse the reader.

The greater problem, however, lies in relying on “meaningless” words and phrases, with very, that and get/got at the top of my list. All are overused and used incorrectly.

Very: In my opinion, the most overused word in the English language, and one which should be banned. Used by most everyone from the time they learn to speak until they end up in the newsroom to convey degrees of emotion—very sad, very happy, very troubled, very annoyed. Please, I beg you, stop!

How about those great underused words—dismal, dispirited, gloomy, depressed; cheery, joyful, delighted; uneasy, nervous, distressed; testy, irritable, indignant.

Hundreds of thousands of words are at the writer’s fingertips. Please, pick up a dictionary or thesauri or log on to one of the many online versions.

That: That is a tricky word, with several correct usages as a pronoun or in an essential clause. However, I think it is more commonly used incorrectly as a conjunction.

The AP Stylebook contains of list of instances when that is needed, such as after the verbs advocate, declare and point out. Make use of the Stylebook. It’s a fantastic resource for the small newsroom.

That/who: Be mindful of that as a pronoun. A person or a group of people is a who, while an object or an animal is a that.

Essential phrases: That is correctly used in essential clauses, while which is correct for nonessential clause. Refer to the Stylebook when in doubt.

Get/got: Get and got are slang, just like the skin-crawling ain’t. Try these—obtain, earn, receive, prepare (instead of get ready).

Here are some others on my list of meaningless or incorrect uses of words and phrases:

• Some—There were some 52 people at the meeting. Not only is some unneeded, but 52 is specific, negating the use of a generic description.

• Over and more than—John Smith has over 30 years of experience. How high is that? Over describes height, while more than describes length of time, cost or quantity.

• 20-year anniversary—It’s a 20th anniversary.

• Brutal murder—When is a murder not brutal?

• Completely unusable—Unusable says it all.

• Utterly destroyed—Simply destroyed.

• First-ever—First.

• First-annual—Now, that’s just a contradiction. How can an event be annual on its first occurrence?

• Deep passion—Come on.

• Currently—If it happened in the past or will happen in the future, say so. Otherwise, it is current. You don’t need to point it out.

• Implemented—Began, started.

• Utilized—Use.

Here are some great words that aren’t used enough, including many reporters can use on the cops beat—braggart, vexed, melee, fisticuffs, lawman (instead of officer or official), fracas. Try to incorporate new words in your reporting that won’t confuse the reader or send them to the dictionary.