Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 04:27, 23 April 2010

This guideline is a part of the English Misplaced Pages's Manual of Style. It is a generally accepted standard that editors should attempt to follow, though occasional exceptions may apply. Any substantive edit to this page should reflect consensus. When in doubt, discuss first on the talk page.

Shortcuts WP:W2W WP:WORDS

This page in a nutshell: Choose your words carefully.

There are no forbidden words or expressions on Misplaced Pages, but certain expressions should be used with particular care. It is almost always possible to eliminate expressions that are flattering, disparaging, vague, or clichéd, or that suggest Misplaced Pages subscribes to a particular point of view.

The advice in this guideline should not be applied rigidly. What matters is that articles be consistent with the core content policies—Neutral point of view, No original research, and Verifiability—and that they be well-written.

Words that may introduce bias

Statement characterizations

Template:Quote box4

• WP:SAY
• WP:CLAIM

Ensure that the way Misplaced Pages characterizes people's statements is neutral in the context. Using loaded synonyms for the verb to say can imply a one-sided point of view by Misplaced Pages. For example, to write that someone noted, observed or surmised can suggest the degree of the speaker's carefulness or access to evidence when that is unverifiable. To write that a person revealed, pointed out, exposed, or found something can imply that it is true, where a neutral account might preclude such an endorsement. Statements may indicate a person's sentiments or impressions, but are not equivalent to them—the use of feel as a synonym for say is thus inadvisable.

To write that someone claimed or insisted something can raise a question of the truth of the claim, particularly after a factual statement—for example, "Jones came under fire for his use of racial slurs, but in a later statement claimed he is not a racist". Similarly, be judicious in the use of admit, confess and deny, particularly of living people, because these verbs can convey guilt—for example, "Supervisors said they had heard about the incident" is better than "Supervisors confessed they had heard about the incident", which suggests that their response was blameworthy.

Stated, wrote, declared, and according to usually ascribe no point of view by Misplaced Pages.

Puffery

Template:Quote box4

• WP:PEA
• WP:PEACOCK

Words such as these are often used without attribution to promote the subject of an article, while neither imparting nor plainly summarizing verifiable information. They are known as "peacock terms" by Misplaced Pages contributors. Instead of making unprovable proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance.

• Peacock example:

• Bob Dylan is the defining figure of the 1960s counterculture and the greatest songwriter of all time.

• Just the facts:

• Dylan was included in Time's 100: The Most Important People of the Century, where he was called "master poet, caustic social critic and intrepid, guiding spirit of the counterculture generation". By the mid-1970s, his songs had already been covered by hundreds of other artists.

Expressions of doubt

Template:Quote box4

• WP:ALLEGED

Words such as supposed and purported can imply that a given point is inaccurate. Alleged and accused are appropriate when wrongdoing is asserted but undetermined, such as with people on trial for crimes. When alleged or accused are used, ensure that the source of the accusation is clear. So-called can mean commonly named, falsely named, or contentiously named and it can be difficult to tell these apart. Simply "called" is preferable for the first meaning; detailed and attributed explanations are preferable for the others.

Words that label

Some words may be used to label a group from an outside perspective, even though these words are used in accordance with a dictionary definition. For example:

• "The Peoples Temple is a cult."
• "The Ku Klux Klan is a racist organization."
• "Pedophilia is a sexual perversion."

Such terms, even when accurate, often convey to readers an implied viewpoint: that of outsiders looking in and labeling as they see it. The fact that a term is accepted "outside" but not "inside" is a good indicator that it may not be neutral.

There are at least three ways to deal with this: attribute the term to reliable sources; replace the label with information; or use a more neutral term. These three approaches are illustrated as follows:

• "The Peoples Temple is an organization, described as a 'cult' by X, Y, and Z."
• "The Ku Klux Klan is an organization that has advocated white supremacy and anti-Semitism."
• "Pedophilia is a paraphilia."

Extremist, terrorist, or freedom fighter?

The terms "extremist", "terrorist", and "freedom fighter" are particularly contentious labels because they often carry an implicit viewpoint. "Extremist" and "terrorist" are pejorative labels, frequently applied to those whose cause is being opposed. Similarly, the term "freedom fighter" is typically applied to those whose cause is being supported. These words are inherently non-neutral, so they should not be used as unqualified labels in the voice of the article.

If a reliable source describes a person or group using one of these words, then the word can be used but the description must be attributed in the article text to its source, preferably by direct quotation, and always with a verifiable citation. If the term is used with a clear meaning by multiple reliable independent sources, then citations to several such sources should be provided for the sentence where it appears.

When replacing one of these labels with a less controversial one, the word to be used should be chosen on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the words' ambiguity, appropriateness, and specificity with respect to the context. Factual descriptions such as bomber, gunman, hijacker, hostage-taker, kidnapper, and suicide bomber are often suitable as replacements. Assassin may in some circumstances be appropriate, but that word can also reflect a non-neutral point of view (hence such euphemisms as targeted killing). Other words to consider using, but which may also reflect a non-neutral point of view, are insurgent, paramilitary, partisan, and militant.

When an article refers to the general concept of terrorism, extremism, or freedom fighting, those terms may generally be used (e.g., in the article Freedom fighter, the article on a scholar who studies extremism, or articles concerned with general anti-terrorism organizations such as Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist Branch). Nonetheless, care must be taken in these articles when applying the label of terrorist, extremist, or freedom fighter to a specific person, group, or event.

Editorializing

Template:Quote box4

• WP:EDITORIAL
• WP:OPED

The use of adverbs such as notably and interestingly, and phrases such as it should be noted, to highlight something as particularly significant without attributing that opinion should usually be avoided. Words such as fundamentally, essentially, and basically can indicate particular interpretative viewpoints, and thus should also be attributed in controversial cases. Clearly, obviously, naturally, and of course not only suggest a point of view, they are often nothing but excess verbiage. Misplaced Pages should not take a view as to whether an event was fortunate or not.

Unsupported attributions

Template:Quote box4

• WP:AWW
• WP:WEASEL

These phrases are frequently used to present the appearance of support for statements while denying the reader the opportunity to assess the source of the viewpoint. They are referred to as "weasel words" by Misplaced Pages contributors. In many cases, they simply pad out sentences without conveying any useful information. Claims about what people say, think, feel, or believe and what has been shown, demonstrated, or proved should be clearly attributed.

Euphemisms

Template:Quote box4

• WP:EUPHEMISM

The word died is neutral and accurate. Avoid euphemisms such as resting place: dead people aren't resting. Likewise, have sex is neutral; the euphemism make love is presumptuous. Expressions such as collateral damage and ethnic cleansing mask violence in clinical terms. If a person has an affliction, or is afflicted, say just that; living with is a verbose softener.

Norms vary for expressions concerning disabilities and disabled persons. The goal here is to express things as clearly and directly as possible, while not causing offense when it is unnecessary. Do not assume that plain language is inappropriate. The National Federation of the Blind opposes terms such as visually impaired and sightless in favor of the straightforward blind, when that is the fact. Similarly, the group argues that there is no need to substitute awkward circumlocutions such as people with blindness for the plain phrase blind people.

Clichés

Template:Quote box4 Clichés are generally to be avoided in favor of more directly informative expression. Lion's share is often misunderstood; instead use a term such as all, most, or two-thirds. The tip of the iceberg should be reserved for descriptions of icebergs; the small portion evident conveys the substance without gilding the lily. People in Misplaced Pages articles do not take the plunge, they simply do things.

Neologisms and new compounds

Neologisms are expressions that have been coined recently. In most cases, they do not appear in general-interest dictionaries, though they may be used routinely within certain communities or professions. They should generally be avoided because their definitions tend to be unstable and many do not last. Where the use of a neologism is necessary to describe recent developments in a certain field, its meaning must be supported by reliable sources.

Adding common prefixes or suffixes such as pre-, post-, non–, anti-, or –like to existing words to create new compounds can aid clarity, but make sure the resulting terms are not misleading or offensive, and that they do not lend undue weight to a point of view. Adding –ism to a word, for instance, may suggest that a tenuous belief system is well established.

Vulgarities and obscenities

Misplaced Pages's encyclopedic mission encompasses the inclusion of material that may offend. Misplaced Pages is not censored. Quoted words should appear as in the original source. However, language that would generally be considered vulgar or obscene should be used if and only if its omission would cause the article to be less informative, relevant, or accurate, and no equally suitable alternative is available. Outside of quotations, vulgar or obscene words should not be used except where they are themselves the topic.

See also

• Misplaced Pages:Article titles
• Wikisource:The Elements of Style/Misuse

References

1. Cocks, Jay (June 14, 1999). "The Time 100: Bob Dylan". Time. Retrieved October 5, 2008. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
2. Grossman, Lyod. A Social History of Rock Music: From the Greasers to Glitter Rock (McKay: 1976), p. 66.
3. "Resolution 93-01". National Federation of the Blind. July 9, 1993. Retrieved April 4, 2010.

External links

• Lake Superior State University Banished Words List