Weasel Words

What are weasel words?

You can become a better writer almost immediately by learning to identify and replace “weasel words.”

Weasel words are phrases or terms used to create an impression that a specific, bold claim has been made, when in actuality something more vague or ambiguous has been stated. They're often used to evade or soften a statement, making it less direct or assertive. Examples include phrases like "some say," "experts believe," or "it is often thought," which can suggest authority or consensus without providing specific sources or evidence.

We use weasel words to hide gaps in our knowledge. They are often subconscious crutches that sound so coherent and fitting that we don’t recognise them for the hollow, empty phrases they really are.

But in almost all cases, writing can be made vastly more persuasive and helpful by deleting these words and replacing them with a simple list of the actual concrete processes they are acting as placeholders for.

For example, instead of writing about “analyzing data”, it would be better to use one of the following phrases:

• “Looking for outliers in monthly traffic performance”

• “Creating cohorts to track performance across authors and topics”

• “Comparing recent monthly performance to historical benchmarks from last year”

Weasel words proliferate because finding these concrete processes is hard and time-consuming, requiring the writer to conduct more research or introspect more deeply. But it is precisely these concrete, tangible actions that provide the most value to a reader trying to understand a concept or learn a process.

Weasel word examples

To really hammer this point home, here’s a ludicrously exhaustive list of weasel words, rewritten to provide much greater specificity and clarity:

1. Many believe → “Surveys indicate a majority belief among millennials...”

2. Experts state → “Dr. Emily Taylor, in her 2023 study on neuroscience, states...”

3. Studies show → “2021 findings in the Journal of Environmental Science show...”

4. Research suggests → “NASA's Mars research suggests a possibility of...”

5. Science says → “Recent advances in quantum physics propose that...”

6. Statistics prove → “2020 national health statistics clearly demonstrate an increase in...”

7. History tells us → “Medieval records reveal patterns of...”

8. People say → “Feedback from urban residents in 2022 community forums suggests...”

9. Critics claim → “Film critic Jordan Ellis claims in his 2023 review...”

10. Some argue → “Economist Dr. Green argues for a revision of fiscal policies due to...”

11. It is often said → “Philosopher Alan Watts often discussed concepts of...”

12. It is widely believed → “In nutritional circles, it’s a popular belief that...”

13. Observers note → “Wildlife observers in the Amazon noted a significant shift in 2021...”

14. Many people think → “2022 public opinion polls reflect a trend towards...”

15. It has been noted → “In the International Engineering Journal, it’s noted that...”

16. Conventional wisdom suggests → “Classical literature on leadership suggests that effective leaders...”

17. It could be argued → “In debates on renewable energy, it is argued that...”

18. There is evidence to suggest → “Archeological evidence from ancient Greece suggests...”

19. Some people say → “Local farmers in the Midwest reported in 2022 that...”

20. Often → “In urban planning, it's often observed that...”

21. Many are of the opinion → “Teachers in secondary education commonly express the opinion that...”

22. It is generally believed → “In culinary circles, it’s generally accepted that...”

23. There is a belief that → “Among physicists, there's a prevailing belief that...”

24. It has been suggested → “At the 2022 Tech Conference, it was suggested that...”

25. It is commonly thought → “Among athletes, it’s commonly thought that rigorous training...”

26. They say → “The latest 2023 tech blogs say that advancements in AI...”

27. It has been claimed → “In landmark legal cases, it has been claimed that...”

28. It is rumored → “In financial markets, rumors suggest a shift towards...”

29. It is felt that → “Among contemporary artists, there's a feeling that...”

30. It is often claimed → “Environmental activists often claim that...”

31. Some say → “Urban sociologists say that modern cities...”

32. There is a school of thought → “In quantum mechanics, a school of thought posits that...”

33. It is reported that → “In the latest 2021 health reports, it's reported that...”

34. The consensus is → “In the global scientific community, the consensus is...”

35. Most people think → “In mainstream psychology, it’s thought that human behavior...”

36. It is often thought → “In historical analyses, it’s often thought that major wars...”

37. The majority believes → “In a 2020 consumer survey, the majority believes that brand loyalty...”

38. It is popularly believed → “In fitness circles, it’s popularly believed that high-intensity workouts...”

39. Traditionally → “Traditionally, in Japanese cuisine, it's customary to...”

40. Customarily → “Customarily, in legal practice, attorneys advise clients to...”

41. It tends to be → “In classical music, it tends to be that compositions by...”

42. It is assumed that → “In elementary education, it’s assumed that early reading...”

43. Generally → “In meteorology, it's generally forecasted that weather patterns...”

44. Typically → “In software development, it's typically seen that agile methodologies...”

45. Usually → “In retail, it’s usually the case that holiday seasons...”

46. It is understood that → “Among economists, it’s understood that 2021 market fluctuations...”

47. The tendency is → “In modern architecture, the tendency is to incorporate...”

48. The fact is → “In astrophysics, the fact is that black holes...”

49. In most cases → “In medical diagnostics, in most cases, early symptoms of...”

50. It is said that → “In folklore, it’s said that certain myths...”