NewsBlues mrsbgrammar Page 155
Chapter 2 Word Choice
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euphemisms
A euphemism is a nice sounding word substituted for one that is
harsh or ugly.
Most are evasive at best and deceitful at worst.
Plain English is what you as a news writer need to use.
A philosophy professor at Emory University called euphemisms
"linguistic fig leaves."
Here are a few classics:
"correction facility" for PRISON
"adult entertainment" for PORNOGRAPHY
"economically deprived" for POOR
"urban outdoorsman" for HOMELESS
"chemical dependency" for DRUG ADDICTION
"incendiary device" for BOMB
"strategic withdrawal" or "tactical redeployment" for RETREAT or
DEFEAT
"dis-synergies" instead of LOSSES in the corporate world
"re-organized," "re-engineered," "downsized," or "rightsized" instead
of LAID OFF
"passed away" instead of DIED
Mrs. B was reminded recently of an early line in Edward Albee's
play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf about the location of the
bathroom. George, a college professor, tells his wife Martha to show
their pregnant guest "where we keep the ... euphemism."
