The news comes amid reports that area residents are mourning the loss of a local man…
Sound familiar? It should. It’s terrible writing.
Every day, journalists fill their stories with phrases no one uses in real life. This guide will help you stop.
Why News Writing Sounds Weird
a Florida man
Instead of ‘a man from Florida.’ No one talks like this in real life.
sustained injuries
Instead of ‘was hurt.’ This is cop-speak that distances you from your audience.
the sports world is mourning
When we can’t possibly know that. How do you know everyone is mourning?
Why does this happen?
We learned from bad examples. We heard successful broadcasters use these constructions and started copying them. Some journalism schools don’t emphasize writing anymore. On deadline, it’s easier to reach for familiar phrases than find better ones.
The result?
We sound like robots. We use words no one else uses. We distance ourselves from our audience with cop-speak and insider jargon.
It’s time to write like humans again.
A Guide to Clearer Writing
This site is a comprehensive reference of 400+ words and phrases that weaken news writing. Each entry explains why it’s problematic and what to use instead.
Built from decades of professional news writing experience, this isn’t about arbitrary rules. It’s about what actually makes stories clearer, stronger, and more direct.
The Worst Offenders
These phrases should NEVER appear in your news stories:
Amid
Never. Always a sign of laziness.
The worst: ‘The news comes amid reports that…’ Who uses that construction in real life? Terrible writing.
Time will tell
Never use this phrase.
One of the worst examples of journalese and lazy writing. Of course time will tell. It always does. So why say it?
Take a listen
Never.
Take a look’ is acceptable, as is ‘take a drink,’ but ‘take a listen’ is something only news anchors say.
In the wake of / Comes amid / On the heels of
Stop using these immediately.
These are phrases that are almost never used by non-journalists but are used constantly by broadcast news writers. Just say ‘after.’
Area residents
Classic journalese.
Just say ‘people who live here.’ Who says ‘area residents’ other than journalists?
Sustained injuries
More cop-speak.
Use ‘suffered’ or better yet, ‘was hurt.’ When we can avoid using coptalk or hospital jargon, we connect better with viewers and readers.
Hollywood is mourning
Hackneyed and lazy.
How do you know everyone in Hollywood is mourning? You don’t. It’s hyperbolic, cliché, and demonstrably incorrect.
Pain at the pump
The gas-price equivalent of ‘friendly skies.’
It’s as clichéd as can be. Just report the gas prices without the tired metaphor.
This is just the beginning. There are 400+ more phrases that weaken your writing.
Four Types of Bad News Writing
COP-SPEAK
Police jargon that distances readers
Example: ‘Sustained injuries’ > Say ‘was hurt’
REDUNDANCIES
Saying the same thing twice
Example: ‘Armed gunmen’ > All gunmen are armed
CLICHÉS
Tired phrases that sound lazy
Example: ‘Pain at the pump’ > Just report gas prices
Ready to Clean Up Your Writing?
Browse the complete list of 400+ phrases with detailed explanations for why each one weakens your writing and what to use instead.
Or start with the columns that dig deeper into specific problems in broadcast and print journalism.
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