How to Coach Yourself and Others Beware of Manipulation | Page 111

15. Using weasel words.
A weasel word (also, anonymous authority) may be an informal term for equivocating 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, or even a refutation has been communicated.
In other cases, words with a particular subjective effect are chosen. For example, one person may speak
of "resistance fighters" or "freedom fighters", while another may call the same subjects "terrorists".
The underlying facts are the same, but a quite different impression is given.
The use of weasel words to avoid making an outright assertion is a synonym to tergiversate. Weasel
words can imply meaning far beyond the claim actually being made. Some weasel words may also
have the effect of softening the force of a potentially loaded or otherwise controversial statement
through some form of understatement, for example using detensifiers such as "somewhat" or "in most
respects".
A study of Wikipedia found that most weasel words in it could be divided into three categories:
1. Numerically vague expressions (e.g. "some people", "experts", "many")
2. Use of the passive voice to avoid specifying an authority (e.g. "it is said")
3. Adverbs that weaken (e.g. "often", "probably")
Other forms of weasel words include:
Use of euphemisms (e.g., replacing "firing staff" with "streamlining the workforce")
Use of grammatical devices such as qualifiers and the subjunctive mood
Generalizations: The vagueness of a statement may disguise the validity or the aim of that statement.
Generalizing by means of quantifiers, such as many or better, and the passive voice ("it has been
decided") conceals the full picture in that it avoids the necessity of providing attribution. (If one were
to put "it has been decided" into active voice, one would need to supply an actor: "X has decided".)
Non sequitur statements: Irrelevant statements are often used in advertising to make it appear that the
statement is a beneficial feature of the product or service being advertised. Example: "The official coat
hanger of a sports team". This statement announces a paid endorsement with the aim of suggesting that
the quality of the coat hanger is superior to others. The statement does not, however, offer any
evidence in support of its claim - there is not necessarily a link between the quality of a product and a
paid endorsement.
Examples from Wikipedia:
"A growing body of evidence..."(Where is the raw data for your review?)
"People say..." (Which people? How do they know?)
"It has been claimed that..." (By whom, where, when?)
"Critics claim..." (Which critics?)
"Clearly..." (As if the premise is undeniably true)
"It stands to reason that..." (Again, as if the premise is undeniably true—see "Clearly" above)
"Questions have been raised..." (Implies a fatal flaw has been discovered)
"I heard that..." (Who told you? Is the source reliable?)
"There is evidence that..." (What evidence? Is the source reliable?)

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