Collins Improve Your Writing Skills. Graham King

growing range of euphemisms for personal problems and disabilities. Even in these politically-correct times it is more acceptable to be frank but sensitive. Also avoid differently abled.

      come on stream [jj] As in the new model will come on stream in April. Oil producer’s jargon usually misapplied. Use begin production, start working, get under way.

      come to terms with [j] Use accept, understand

      concept [j] Use idea, plan, proposal, notion

      core [jjj] As in core curriculum, core concepts. Use basic

      creative accounting [jj] Not necessarily illegal but a vague and troubling term best avoided or left to the financial professionals.

      cutback [j] A needless expansion of cut

      de-manning [jjj] Use cutting jobs

      de-stocking [jj] Use running down stocks, shrinking

      downsizing [jjj] Usually meant to mean cutting jobs, or reacting to a bad financial year by cutting back production or services.

      downplay [jj] As in he tried to downplay the gravity of the case. Use play down, minimise.

      end of the day [j] As in at the end of the day, what have we got? Use in the end

      final analysis [j] As in in the final analysis it makes little difference. Use in the end

      front-runner [j] Use leading contender, leading or favoured candidate

      funded [j] Use paid for

      geared [jj] As in the service was geared to the stockbroker belt. Use aimed at, intended for, connected to, suited to

      generate [j] Use make, produce

      hands-on [jj] As in he adopted a hands-on policy with the staff. It makes you wonder what he was paid to do – massage them? Has been replaced by another jargon word, anyway – proactive.

      heading up [jj] As in Smith will be heading up the takeover team. Use heading or leading

      hidden agenda [jjj] Top-rank jargon. Use hidden/disguised purpose

      identify with [jj] As in He was identified with the activists. Use associated with, linked with.

      implement [jj] Use carry out, fulfil.

      inaugurate [jj] As in She will inaugurate the new policy. Use introduce, start.

      in-flight/in-house [j] Part of the language now but still jargon. When carried further, as in in-car entertainment, it can sound faintly ridiculous.

      input [jjjj] As in ‘A core post is available for a Senior Research Associate to take a leading role in the programme. The first projects involve relating nursing inputs to patient outcomes in acute hospitals’ (University of Newcastle upon Tyne ad). A verbal germ picked up from the computer world where it is used as a verb meaning enter or insert, as in he inputted the entire file. Outside computing the word can mean contribute or, as a noun, contribution, or . . . nothing at all. Avoid.

      interface [jjjj] Another refugee from computing. As a noun, it means contact. As a hideous verb, interface with can mean work with, negotiate with, cooperate with or simply meet. Any of these is preferable.

      jury is still out [jj] As in Whether the move has saved the pound, the jury is still out. Use is not yet known/decided/certain/clear meet with, meet up with [jj] Use meet

      methodology [j] Often used in error for method. It really means a system of methods and principles

      name of the game [jj] As in the name of the game is to make money. Use object

      new high, new low [j] Use new/record high level; new/record low level

      non-stopping [jjj] As in the eastbound service will be non-stopping at the following stations . . . Use will not stop

      operational [j] As in the service is now operational. Use now running/now working

      outgoing [j] Use friendly

      overview [j] Use broad view

      on the back of [jj] As in the shares rose sharply on the back of the board’s profit forecast. Use after/because of/as the result of.

      ongoing [jjj] As in We have an ongoing supply problem. Use continuing/continual/persistent/constant.

      precondition [jjj] A condition is something that has to happen before something else will happen. A pre-condition is therefore nonsense, unless you wish to impose a condition on a condition! There must be no preconditions for the peace talks is questionable usage. Best to avoid and use condition.

      put on the back burner [jj] Colourful, but jargon nevertheless. Use the more precise postponed/delayed/deferred/suspended, etc.

      scenario [jj] As in worst case scenario. Originally meaning an outline of a play or film, its usage has been extended to mean outcome or prediction. Use the more specific words, or result/plan/outline, depending on context.

      spend [jj] As in their total advertising spend will exceed £7m. A sloppy shortening of expenditure or spending.

      state of the art [jj] Use latest/newest.

      take on board [jj] Use understand/comprehend/accept

      terminal [j] Use fatal/mortal

      track record [j] Except for an athlete, perhaps, track record means nothing more than record. The next time you are tempted to use proven track record, be a brave pioneer and write experience

      user-friendly [jj] Use easy to use

      venue [j] Use place/setting

      viable alternative [jj] Use alternative/choice/option

      whitewash [j] As in They’ll certainly want to whitewash the incident. Use hide, gloss over, cover up, suppress, conceal

Saying it Nicely: Euphemism

       My father did not like the word fart. The first time I heard the word was when I was about three. I was watching a cowman milking and the cow farted. I said ‘What was that?’ and he said ‘That was a fart’. It was just a word; as if I’d said ‘what’s that on the tree?’ and he’d said ‘bark’. I had a dog called Tuppy, because I bought him for tuppence. One day as I walked by him, I heard this same noise and I said ‘Tuppy farted’. My father said, ‘Where did you hear that?’ and I said ‘It came from his bottom’. However my father had a way of getting around the word. He would say, ‘Who whispered?’ and we totally accepted this euphemism until one day my granny says, ‘Come, David, and whisper in granny’s ear’.

      Dave Allen, 1990 interview.

      That’s the