Bureaucrats, journalists have one thing in common, critic contends

Turnabout is fair play, so since we wrote in December about phrases that bureaucrats love and journalists hate, we thought we should share a blog post that gives examples of journo-speak.

In the post, Bob Ingrassia contends that journalists are apt to use words that never pass through the lips of ordinary people – or even journalists when we are off-duty.

Media watchdog Jim Romenesko linked the blog on his website, and people have been sending suggestions to him on Twitter (@romenesko).

“Mull” and “probe” are two words I try never to use in stories, but they wind up in headlines because they are shorter than “consider” and “investigate.” I am guilty of using “largely,” “critics contend” and “express concern,” three examples given by Ingrassia.