169:, realizing that Lucina is outside the room using magic to prevent the birth, emerges to announce that the birth has been a success. Lucina, in her amazement, drops the spells of binding and Hercules is born. Galanthis then mocks Lucina, who responds by transforming her into a weasel. Ovid writes (in A.S. Kline's translation) "And because her lying mouth helped in childbirth, she gives birth through her mouth." Ancient Greeks believed that weasels conceived through their ears and gave birth through their mouths.
193:), in which weasel words were described as "words that suck the life out of the words next to them, just as a weasel sucks the egg and leaves the shell." Roosevelt apparently later put the term into public use after using it in a speech in St. Louis May 31, 1916. According to Mario Pei, Roosevelt said, "When a weasel sucks an egg, the meat is sucked out of the egg; and if you use a weasel word after another, there is nothing left of the other."
352:. For example, stating that a product "... is now 20% cheaper!" raises the question, "Cheaper than what?" It might be said that "Four out of five people prefer ..." something, but this raises the questions of the size and selection of the sample, and the size of the majority. "Four out of five" could actually mean that there had been 8% for, 2% against, and 90% indifferent.
40:
281:
is defined as the use of the passive voice without specifying an actor or agent. For example, saying "it has been decided" without stating by whom, and citation of unidentified "authorities" or "experts," provide further scope for weaseling. It can be used in combination with the reverse approach of
274:
are often used in advertising, where the statement describes a beneficial feature of a product or service being advertised. An example is the endorsement of products by celebrities, regardless of whether they have any expertise relating to the product. In non-sequitur fashion, it does not follow that
301:
The scientific journal article is another example of the legitimate use of the passive voice. For an experimental result to be useful, anyone who runs the experiment should get the same result. That is, the identity of the experimenter should be of low importance. Use of the passive voice focuses
297:
However, the passive voice is legitimately used when the identity of the actor or agent is irrelevant. For example, in the sentence "one hundred votes are required to pass the bill," there is no ambiguity, and the actors including the members of the voting community cannot practicably be named even
67:. Examples include the phrases "some people say", "it is thought", and "researchers believe". Using weasel words may allow one to later deny any specific meaning if the statement is challenged, because the statement was never specific in the first place. Weasel words can be a form of
325:
The first of these also demonstrates false authority, in that anyone who disagrees incurs the suspicion of being unreasonable merely by dissenting. Another example from international politics is use of the phrase "the international community" to imply a false unanimity.
186:
attributed the term to his friend
William Sewall's older brother, Dave, claiming that he had used the term in a private conversation in 1879. The expression first appeared in print in Stewart Chaplin's short story "Stained Glass Political Platform" (published in 1900 in
302:
attention upon the actions, and not upon the actor—the author of the article. To achieve conciseness and clarity, however, most scientific journals encourage authors to use the active voice where appropriate, identifying themselves as "we" or even "I."
63:, is a word or phrase aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague, ambiguous, or irrelevant claim has been communicated. The terms may be considered
94:
Weasel words can weaken or understate a controversial claim. An example of this is using terms like "somewhat" or "in most respects," which make a sentence more ambiguous than it would be without them.
172:
Definitions of the word 'weasel' that imply deception and irresponsibility include: the noun form, referring to a sneaky, untrustworthy, or insincere person; the verb form, meaning to
1086:) to documenting the increasing use of weasel words in government and corporate language. He maintains a website encouraging people to identify and nominate examples of weasel words.
334:
may be used to soften and potentially mislead the audience. For example, the dismissal of employees may be referred to as "rightsizing," "headcount reduction," and "downsizing."
834:
456:
1166:
894:
1091:
Scott Adams, the creator of the
Dilbert comic strip, talks much about 'weasels' as being conniving businesspeople in one of his books, named accordingly:
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of weasels sucking eggs. The article said that this simile was flawed because weasels do not have the jaw musculature suitable for sucking eggs.
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572:
268:, when quantifiable measures could be provided, obfuscates the point being made, and if done deliberately is an example of "weaseling."
1093:
713:
290:. This implies an absence of ownership of opinion, which casts a limited doubt on the opinion being articulated. The construction "
590:"Review of: Women and Weasels: Mythologies of Birth in Ancient Greece and Rome. Translated by Emlyn Eisenach; first published 1998"
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discrediting a contrary viewpoint by glossing it as "claimed" or "alleged." This embraces what is termed a "semantic
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738:"Finding Hedges by Chasing Weasels: Hedge Detection Using Knowledge (XXG) Tags and Shallow Linguistic Features"
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Numerically vague expressions (for example, "some people", "experts", "many", "evidence suggests")
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In most languages with one, use of the first person plural pronouns e.g. we, us, our, and ours
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1114:. New York: Harper & Row. Classic work by the well-known Columbia University linguist.
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using "weasel words". In this case, "some people" are a vague and undefined authority.
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294:" enables the speaker to acknowledge error without identifying those responsible.
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180:," meaning "to squeeze one's way out of something" or "to evade responsibility."
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found that most weasel words in it could be divided into three main categories:
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321:"Experience insists that most people will not be better off after the changes."
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318:"There are great fears that most people will be worse off after the changes."
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315:"It stands to reason that most people will be better off after the changes."
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1019:"Business Buzzwords: Rightsizing, Downsizing, Re-Engineering, De-Layering"
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provides an earlier source for the same etymology. Ovid describes how
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the endorsement provides any guarantee of quality or suitability.
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Carl
Wrighter discussed weasel words in his best-selling book
311:
can be used to create a misleading impression. For example:
216:
to avoid specifying an authority (for example, "it is said")
348:
available to the audience is a technique sometimes used in
994:. Jacksonville, Florida, US. December 1995. Archived from
691:
The
Macmillan Dictionary of Contemporary Phrase and Fable
1052:
described astronomer Dr. J. Allen Hynek's report on the
831:"In war or business, weasel words come back to bite you"
742:
Proceedings of the ACL-IJCNLP 2009 Conference Short Pape
27:
Words or phrases using vague claims to appear meaningful
962:"Clear Science Writing: Active Voice or Passive Voice?"
708:(1st ed.). New York: Harper & Row. p. 1.
219:
Adverbs that weaken (for example, "often", "probably")
2093:
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1970:
1912:
1844:
1761:
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1112:
Weasel Words: The Art of Saying What You Don't Mean
705:
Weasel Words: The Art of Saying What You Don't Mean
1054:death of pilot Thomas Mantell in pursuit of a UFO
30:For the specific meaning in Knowledge (XXG), see
736:Ganter, Viola; Strube, Michael (4 August 2009).
1056:as "a masterpiece in the art of 'weasel wording
223:Other forms of weasel words may include these:
107:may have derived from the egg-eating habits of
2174:
1160:
8:
568:Ovid, Metamorphoses (tr. Anthony S. Kline),
895:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2181:
2167:
2159:
1167:
1153:
1145:
856:Garber, Marjorie B. (7 September 2003).
338:of this kind is used to describe things
501:Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
445:
547:
1045:Report on Unidentified Flying Objects
941:from the original on 25 December 2013
901:from the original on 25 December 2013
837:from the original on 30 November 2022
810:from the original on 29 November 2022
748:from the original on 27 February 2021
626:from the original on 12 January 2012.
117:attributes the origin of the term to
7:
1017:Pop, Anamaria-Mirabela (July 2011).
968:from the original on 18 January 2022
1084:Watson's Dictionary of Weasel Words
928:English and Theatre – Grammar Pages
252:Glittering or vague generalizations
238:Use of grammatical devices such as
1119:"Hedging as a Fallacy of Language"
644:from the original on 15 April 2014
454:"Hedging as a Fallacy of Language"
272:Illogical or irrelevant statements
228:Illogical or irrelevant statements
153:orders the goddess of childbirth,
25:
2539:Propaganda techniques using words
1094:Dilbert and the Way of the Weasel
532:from the original on 31 July 2013
779:from the original on 9 July 2022
476:Theodore Roosevelt Association,
1811:Party platforms (or manifestos)
520:Rising, Gerry (15 March 1999).
133:, in which the author includes
91:view or unsubstantiated claim.
2544:Metaphors referring to animals
988:"Has Downsizing Gone too Far?"
960:Every, Barbara (5 July 2013).
111:. An article published by the
1:
1048:(1956), US Air Force Captain
478:Theodore Roosevelt Cyclopedia
378:Essentially contested concept
176:shiftily; and the phrase "to
2453:Rally 'round the flag effect
2328:Fear, uncertainty, and doubt
1899:Rally 'round the flag effect
298:if it were useful to do so.
992:University of North Florida
829:Long, Rob (11 April 2011).
286:," represented by the term
32:Knowledge (XXG):Weasel word
2565:
862:Princeton University Press
594:Bryn Mawr Classical Review
554:: CS1 maint: postscript (
232:Use of vague or ambiguous
29:
2196:
1240:Manipulation (psychology)
769:"7 Types of Weasel Words"
87:to mislead or disguise a
1418:Criticism of advertising
678:25 February 2021 at the
669:"Origin of 'Weasel Words
507:10 February 2012 at the
2258:Cartographic propaganda
2080:Promotional merchandise
1791:Character assassination
1728:Narcotizing dysfunction
1602:Photograph manipulation
1315:Guerrilla communication
1134:17 October 2023 at the
1067:I Can Sell You Anything
640:. The Free Dictionary.
575:10 October 2014 at the
481:(subscription required)
346:Restricting information
2443:Propaganda of the deed
2413:New generation warfare
2363:Historical negationism
2201:Accusation in a mirror
2063:Product demonstrations
1492:Historical negationism
876:p. 140 "it is alleged"
804:London Business School
48:
2549:Rhetorical techniques
2529:Political terminology
2438:Psychological warfare
2403:Monumental propaganda
2353:Glittering generality
2333:Firehose of falsehood
2190:Propaganda techniques
1995:Reputation management
1914:Psychological warfare
1763:Political campaigning
1572:Firehose of falsehood
1138:by Australian author
1078:devoted two volumes (
486:14 April 2012 at the
418:Political correctness
398:Linguistic relativity
161:from giving birth to
43:An illustration of a
42:
2278:Demonizing the enemy
2030:Corporate propaganda
998:on 28 September 2007
667:, 2 September 1916,
588:Manioti, Nikoletta.
459:23 June 2018 at the
383:Filler (linguistics)
190:The Century Magazine
165:. Alcmene's servant
85:political statements
2468:Shooting and crying
2298:Emotive conjugation
2273:Cult of personality
2223:Atrocity propaganda
2118:Media concentration
1990:Non-apology apology
1980:Cult of personality
1708:Emotive conjugation
1462:Burying of scholars
1117:Jason, Gary (1988)
921:"The Passive Voice"
702:Pei, Mario (1978).
452:Jason, Gary (1988)
433:Hedge (linguistics)
408:Non-apology apology
242:, negation and the
119:William Shakespeare
71:and may be used in
61:anonymous authority
2428:Oversimplification
2408:Moralistic fallacy
2101:Influence-for-hire
1894:National mythology
1864:Crowd manipulation
1753:Tabloid journalism
1622:Video manipulation
1567:Fictitious entries
1290:Civil disobedience
1176:Media manipulation
1074:Australian author
891:The Writing Center
858:Academic Instincts
498:E. Cobham Brewer,
292:mistakes were made
184:Theodore Roosevelt
49:
2501:
2500:
2393:Managing the news
2218:Appeal to emotion
2156:
2155:
1922:Airborne leaflets
1801:Election promises
1655:Product placement
1530:Alternative facts
1270:Alternative media
1050:Edward J. Ruppelt
932:Acadia University
871:978-0-691-11571-9
423:Spin (propaganda)
413:Non-denial denial
16:(Redirected from
2556:
2534:Pejorative terms
2493:White propaganda
2448:Public relations
2423:Overcomplication
2308:False accusation
2243:Black propaganda
2233:Beautiful people
2228:Bandwagon effect
2183:
2176:
2169:
2160:
2148:Media proprietor
1972:Public relations
1952:Public diplomacy
1937:Information (IT)
1816:Name recognition
1441:Media regulation
1423:Annoyance factor
1280:Call-out culture
1195:Crowd psychology
1169:
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833:. The National.
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373:Corporate jargon
244:subjunctive mood
201:A 2009 study of
21:
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2524:English phrases
2504:
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2497:
2383:Loaded language
2192:
2187:
2157:
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2143:Media influence
2138:Media franchise
2123:Media democracy
2089:
2034:
1966:
1908:
1889:Loaded language
1840:
1757:
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1516:
1445:
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1295:Culture jamming
1244:
1178:
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1136:Wayback Machine
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1037:Further reading
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887:"Passive Voice"
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798:Crilly, Donal.
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775:. Simplicable.
773:Simplicable.com
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461:Wayback Machine
451:
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428:Wooden language
358:
340:euphemistically
279:False authority
203:Knowledge (XXG)
199:
103:The expression
101:
77:popular science
35:
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2373:Indoctrination
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2283:Disinformation
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2268:Cherry picking
2265:
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2213:Appeal to fear
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2020:Understatement
2017:
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1884:Indoctrination
1881:
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1869:Disinformation
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1831:Smear campaign
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1748:Sensationalism
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1688:Agenda-setting
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1562:False document
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1467:Catch and kill
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1300:Demonstrations
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1285:Cancel culture
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1125:X.3, Fall 1988
1123:Informal Logic
1115:
1103:
1102:External links
1100:
1099:
1098:
1088:
1087:
1080:Death Sentence
1071:
1070:
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1038:
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1009:
979:
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800:"Weasel words"
790:
767:Spacey, John.
759:
728:
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683:
664:New York Times
655:
629:
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467:X.3, Fall 1988
465:Informal Logic
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130:As You Like It
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81:opinion pieces
69:tergiversation
26:
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2318:False dilemma
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2313:False balance
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2128:Media ecology
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2111:United States
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2085:Telemarketing
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2018:
2016:
2013:
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1874:Fearmongering
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1713:False balance
1711:
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1670:Word of mouth
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1457:Broadcast law
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1305:Deplatforming
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1210:False balance
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715:9780060133429
711:
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393:If-by-whiskey
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368:Concept creep
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214:passive voice
211:
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196:
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185:
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179:
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157:, to prevent
156:
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147:
146:Metamorphoses
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66:
62:
58:
54:
46:
41:
37:
33:
19:
2488:Whataboutism
2482:
2458:Scapegoating
2418:Obscurantism
2398:Minimisation
2303:Exaggeration
2205:
2133:Media ethics
2053:Door-to-door
2048:Cold calling
2025:Weasel words
2024:
1932:Fifth column
1826:Push polling
1776:Astroturfing
1738:Pseudo-event
1718:Infotainment
1693:Broadcasting
1612:Urban legend
1535:April Fools'
1408:Testimonials
1378:Infomercials
1205:Dumbing down
1129:Weasel Words
1122:
1092:
1083:
1079:
1066:
1043:
1022:. Retrieved
1012:
1000:. Retrieved
996:the original
991:
982:
970:. Retrieved
955:
943:. Retrieved
927:
915:
903:. Retrieved
890:
881:
857:
851:
839:. Retrieved
824:
812:. Retrieved
803:
793:
781:. Retrieved
772:
762:
750:. Retrieved
741:
731:
719:. Retrieved
704:
697:
690:
686:
662:
658:
646:. Retrieved
638:"weasel out"
632:
619:
610:
593:
583:
564:
541:
534:. Retrieved
526:Buffalo News
525:
515:
500:
494:
472:
464:
448:
345:
344:
329:
328:
324:
308:middle voice
306:
304:
300:
296:
287:
278:
277:
271:
270:
265:
260:by means of
258:Generalizing
257:
256:
222:
200:
188:
182:
177:
171:
144:
139:
128:
122:
114:Buffalo News
112:
104:
102:
93:
60:
56:
50:
36:
18:Weasel words
2483:Weasel word
2433:Plain folks
2348:Gish gallop
2338:Flag-waving
2293:Doublespeak
2288:Dog whistle
2248:Blood libel
2005:Sound bites
1985:Doublespeak
1836:Wedge issue
1796:Dog whistle
1771:Advertising
1597:Lying press
1582:Gaslighting
1360:Advertising
1335:Occupations
1225:Obfuscation
1215:Half-truths
945:24 December
905:24 December
721:10 February
542:Buffalo.edu
536:24 December
363:Ambivalence
262:quantifiers
212:Use of the
105:weasel word
73:advertising
57:weasel word
2508:Categories
2358:Half-truth
2263:Censorship
2207:Ad hominem
2106:Media bias
1962:Subversion
1927:False flag
1904:Techniques
1846:Propaganda
1806:Lawn signs
1786:Canvassing
1680:News media
1436:Censorship
1368:Billboards
1320:Hacktivism
1310:Grassroots
1235:Persuasion
1140:Don Watson
1108:Pei, Mario
1076:Don Watson
440:References
264:, such as
240:qualifiers
234:euphemisms
178:weasel out
174:manipulate
2519:Deception
2514:Ambiguity
2368:Ideograph
2323:Fake news
2068:Promotion
1947:Political
1854:Bandwagon
1781:Attack ad
1660:Publicity
1632:Marketing
1545:Fake news
1507:Religious
1502:Political
1482:Euphemism
1477:Cover-ups
1472:Corporate
1340:Petitions
1230:Orwellian
1200:Deception
1002:5 October
602:1055-7660
550:cite news
522:"Weasels"
331:Euphemism
288:allegedly
167:Galanthis
121:'s plays
2388:Newspeak
2253:Buzzword
2015:Transfer
1957:Sedition
1821:Negative
1733:Newspeak
1723:Managing
1665:Research
1640:Branding
1592:Literary
1557:Fakelore
1550:websites
1540:Deepfake
1497:Internet
1388:Modeling
1345:Protests
1325:Internet
1258:Advocacy
1250:Activism
1132:Archived
966:Archived
936:Archived
899:Archived
835:Archived
808:Archived
777:Archived
746:Archived
676:Archived
648:14 April
642:Archived
624:Archived
616:"weasel"
573:Archived
530:Archived
505:Archived
484:Archived
457:Archived
403:Newspeak
356:See also
163:Hercules
65:informal
53:rhetoric
2378:Lawfare
2343:Framing
2238:Big lie
2094:Related
2073:Spaving
2058:Pricing
2000:Slogans
1942:Lawfare
1879:Framing
1859:Big lie
1650:Product
1645:Loyalty
1577:Forgery
1522:Hoaxing
1403:Slogans
1383:Mobiles
1275:Boycott
1183:Context
1110:(1978)
1097:(2002).
1069:(1972).
1024:4 March
972:25 June
841:19 June
814:19 June
783:19 June
744:: 175.
540:,
284:cop-out
159:Alcmene
135:similes
124:Henry V
109:weasels
2473:Slogan
1698:Circus
1607:Racial
868:
752:11 May
712:
600:
336:Jargon
155:Lucina
99:Origin
89:biased
45:weasel
2463:Senbu
2040:Sales
1743:Scrum
1703:Cycle
1617:Virus
1487:Films
1452:Books
1393:Radio
1373:False
1350:Youth
1330:Media
1263:group
1220:Media
939:(PDF)
924:(PDF)
388:Fnord
197:Forms
59:, or
2478:Spin
2010:Spin
1587:List
1512:Self
1190:Bias
1082:and
1026:2022
1004:2007
974:2014
947:2013
907:2013
866:ISBN
843:2022
816:2022
785:2022
754:2017
723:2022
710:ISBN
650:2014
598:ISSN
556:link
538:2013
305:The
266:many
151:Juno
141:Ovid
127:and
83:and
55:, a
1398:Sex
1042:In
143:'s
51:In
2510::
1413:TV
1121:,
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20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
