Bad News Writing / Bad Broadcast News Writing

Words and Phrases that Generally Should Not Appear in Your News Stories and Newscasts

10,000 of his closest friends – This was a cliché 20 years ago. It isn’t cute or funny or original or clever. It just makes you sound like you heard someone else say it and you thought you would sound cool if you said it.
8 a.m. in the morning – You already said it was “a.m.,” so there’s no need for “in the morning.”
a Florida man
Abrasions – scrapes and scratches
Absolutely –
Accord – agreement
According to – never begin a sentence with this
Across the pond – London
Action-packed – exciting
Adding insult to injury
Address – no. Speech.
Admonished – told, warned, lectured
Advance warning – is there any other kind?
Advised – said
Affect vs. Effect –
Affluent vs. Effluent –
Aftermath –
Ahead of –
All eyes are on – no they aren’t.
Also making news
America’s Sweetheart – says who? Can you be any more condescending?
Amid – Never. Always a sign of laziness. The worst: “The news comes amid reports that…” Who uses that construction in real life? Terrible writing.
Among/between –
And also – redundant
And the rest, as they say, is history – Yes, they do say that. A lot — enough that you shouldn’t say it.
And then there were two –
Angry mob – is there any other kind?
Anti-social vs. Misanthropic –
Anyway/ any way –
April of 2017 – April, 2017
Are you? – This is actually something I want to hear more of. So many stories begin with “Planning to…?” or “Thinking of…?” This isn’t nearly as colloquial or cool as you think it is. There’s nothing wrong with writing “Are you thinking of…?”
Area hospital –
Area residents –
Armed gunmen – are there any other kind?
As you can see – if you can, watch this (remember people often are doing this like cooking meals when
As you know; as you will remember – No, I don’t know. I don’t remember. Don’t assume I remember what happened two weeks ago, and don’t imply that I’m stupid or forgetful, which is what you are doing when you use these terms.
Assail –
At large –
ATM machine –
Attention – So you’re telling me your writing is so bad that you need to start a sentence with “attention”? And you think listeners appreciate being spoken to this way?
Auction estimates – Every time I see or hear a report about an auction, the anchor is talking about how the amount by which the final price exceeded the initial estimate. Come on! The auction house is almost always low-balling, so it can be the subject of a story that tells how much above the initial estimate it sold a piece for. Don’t get fooled. Report, don’t promote, and don’t shill.
Authorities –
Award-winning – EVERY newsroom has won some kind of an award. This phrase is meaningless. Who hasn’t won an award? Every hotel, every insurance agent, every everyone in every business gets some kind of an award — for participating if nothing else. If you must brag, be specific: what award did you win and for what story?
Awful
Back in April – drop “back”
Backs to the wall
Badly decomposed – most bodies, when found, are badly decomposed.
Basic fundamentals – are there any other kind?
battle brewing
be considering condescending as well as trite.
Begs the question –
Behind bars –
Beleaguered –
Below the belt
Best and the brightest –
Between/among –
Bid –
Big Apple – No. New York City.
Bilateral –
Blast –
Blaze – No. Fire.
Blessing in disguise
Bolster –
Bombshell
Boost –
Brave new world –
Braving the elements
Break – as in “we’re coming up on a hard break,” or “on the other side of a break.” These are insider terms not suitable for air. They are mostly heard on the smallest of stations by new broadcast journalism school graduates who want to sound cool. Do you want to sound network or small market? (I could also do without “we’ll be right back” and “and, we’re back.” Do I really need to be told this?)
Breaking their silence
Broadcasted – no. Broadcast.
Bromance –
Brutal
Brutal gang rape
Budget ax – cut from budget
Burn the midnight oil
Buxom
California judge, Oakland resident, Peoria police officer Pure journalese – Better: A judge in California. English speakers rarely put the adjective before the subject.
California man –
Call for –
Cap (limit) –
Caught up with – Why are we always “catching up” with our interview subjects? Are they running away from us? Just say “interviewed” or “talked with.”
Cause and effect –
Cautiously optimistic –
Ceased to operate – stopped working, stalled, jammed
Centered around – centered on
Century – Never “18th century.” Say 1700s.
Chamber –
Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court – no such position. Chief Justice of the United States is the correct title.
Chile – The South American country is pronounced “CHIH-lay,” not “Chilly.”
Chomping at the bit – champing
City of Brotherly Love – No. Philadelphia. Or even Philly. Same for state nicknames.
Claimed the life of
Clash – fight
Clearing the hurdle
Close proximity – redundant
Close-knit community/family/neighborhood – aren’t they all?
Coincidence vs. Irony –
Colombia – The South American nation is pronounced “Koe-LOHM-bee-yah,” not “Koe-LUM-bee-yah.” If your sentence reads “The mayor of the District of Columbia met with the Colombian ambassador to the U.S. this morning,” there should be two different pronunciations heard.
Combination of both – redundant
Comeback –
Comes amid: after
Community in mourning – no it isn’t. Some members of it are.
Completely destroyed – if something is destroyed it is completely destroyed, so this is redundant. If it is not destroyed, it is damaged or even heavily damaged.
Completely/totally engulfed – destroyed, most of (building etc) is burning
Comprise/Compose – Do not use the word “of” with comprise. A group is composed of individuals or it comprises individuals. Also, several individuals can comprise a group (but they cannot compose a group). For serious grammarians, the comprise/compose debate is much written about here, here, here and here.
Comprised of – not correct; use “composed of.”
Concur with – redundant, because concur means “to agree with”
Congrats – not necessarily bad grammar or bad writing, but offensive to my ears. Is it too hard to say “congratulations”?
Congressmen –
Contacted –
Contusions –
Convicted felon – redundant
Convince/persuade –
Could face life in prison – we almost always mean “he could be sentenced to life in prison if he is convicted.” (And don’t drop “he is” from that sentence). Most
murder charges mean the person charged does face life in prison, not could.
Could face – No. A person faces a possible sentence. In most cases, you mean the suspect “could be sentenced to.” And ease up, will you, on the “maximum sentence” stuff. In almost every case, a person found guilty is sentenced to less than the maximum. Stop with the hype. Perhaps say the defendant “could be sentenced to life in prison if she’s convicted, but in most cases people convicted of a crime like this get 12 to 25 years.”
Counseled – told, given a lecture, warned
Countdown – Is it a countdown or is something being counted down? Same for rollover. Is it a rollover or is something being rolled over?
Counterpart – use the title, not this strange word (which only journalists use)
Curb –
Currently – now
Czar – dumb. Use the person’s title.
Death toll
Deceased – dead
Decimated – this has come to mean “to destroy a large number,” but, technically it means to reduce something by one-tenth. Merriam-Webster says “it’s totally fine to use ‘decimate’ as a synonym for ‘devastate,’” because the usage is accepted by so many. In other words, English is changing because those who speak it decide what words mean. And that’s not a bad thing, although when I hear “begs the question” misused it never fails to make me cringe.
Decorated –
Defuse/Diffuse – To defuse something is to literally remove the fuse or figuratively to make something less explosive, i.e. to defuse a tense situation. To diffuse something is to dissipate it or spread it around. Usually the word we want is defuse.
Deliver remarks – spoke
Described –
Details are sketchy –
Discharged his weapon – shot; fired his gun
Dossier –
Down Under – Australia
Draft –
Drop – as in when an album is released. This is insider talk; use “released.”
Drowned to death – No. To drown is to die. Drowned to death is redundant.
Dubbed – just use “called” or “named.”
Dump – as in when a storm “dumps four inches of rain on…” Just say how much
Effect vs. Affect –
Effluent vs. Affluent –
Ejected – thrown from
Embattled –
Enclave –
Ensure/Insure – Okay, insure is gaining acceptance in all uses, but ensure is still a better word for making certain of something. Insure is best used when we are talking about insurance. On websites, many uses of “insure” are incorrect.
Entitled – titled or called
Envoy – Never. Diplomat or representative; only the UN and reporters use “envoy.” Stop it.
Eponymous – Just say “self-titled.” The more pompous a person is, the more likely she or he is to use “eponymous.”
Erstwhile – It means “former.” So say “former.” The more pompous a person is, the more likely she or he is to use “erstwhile.” Are you trying to impress or are you trying to communicate facts?
Estranged –
Evaded – got away
Exited the vehicle – got out of the car
Explained –
Extraordinary/remarkable – Few newscasts today, especially on the networks, don’t contain one or both of these two words. Almost everything we report is remarkable and a lot is. If it weren’t, we probably wouldn’t be reporting it. We shouldn’t be characterizing the news. The problem with the overuse of these words (I’m talking to you Anderson Cooper!) is that when something truly remarkable or extraordinary occurs, we’ve already used up our adjectives.
Failed to observe – didn’t see
Failed to perceive – didn’t see
Falter –
Fatally injured – killed
Father Time –
Female – woman
Fewer/Less – Use “fewer than” before a number, as in “Fewer than 100 people were killed in the bomb strike.” But: “The damage was less than expected.”
Fido – there are no dogs named Fido
Fighting for life
Finishing touches
First 100 Days –
Fled on foot – this is cop-speak. Just say the man ran away. If he fled in a car say he drove away.
Fluffy – there are no cats named Fluffy
Foe – enemy
For his/her/their part – unnecessary; inane
Forecasted –
Forego/forgo – In almost every case, what you really mean is “forgo.” (See the website Daily Writing Tips)
Formally vs. Formerly –
Fraught –
Free gift – if it isn’t free, it isn’t a gift.
Free giveaway – if it isn’t free, it isn’t a giveaway
Friendly skies – This may be a losing battle. A recent search of Google News found almost 6,000 uses of this term in news stories worldwide. It’s as clichéd as can be, but seems to be un-killable. Still, that doesn’t mean you should use it in your scripts and news stories. Your editor will not be impressed. And your viewers and listeners will likely groan.
Future goals – are there any other kind?
Future plans – are there any other kind?
Gained entrance to – broke into
Gauntlet/gantlet –
Gave chase – chased
Gearing up
Given a citation – got a ticket
Goes without saying
Good morning to you – Just say “Good morning.”
GOP – Republican party
Governator – You don’t need to call Arnold Schwarzenegger this every single time. In fact, you should never call him this.
Governor’s mansion –
Grammar Nazi – Never. Someone might be a critic or a stickler, but unless a person is a Nazi they should never be called any kind of Nazi.
Grave danger – is there any other kind?
Gunned down – shot
Gut-wrenching
Guys – Don’t use this construction, especially when you are talking to a mixed-gender group. Plus, it’s so, ummm, bro-ish.
Hailed a hero/hailed as a hero –
Hanging in the balance
Harbinger – A harbinger is “anything that foreshadows a future event; an omen; a sign.” So, to say or write “a harbinger of things to come” is to be redundant.
Heading to the polls
Heating up
Heavily-armed SWAT teams – are there any other kind?
Heavily-fortified – as opposed to lightly?
Helm – Never. Use “direct.”
Here at home
He’s a fighter / “close-knit community” / “close family” – These cliches often appear in reports about someone facing a health challenge and they are meaningless. I mean, how do we know someone is “a fighter,” and if we knew they were a quitter would we say that? And why is every community from which we report “close-knit”? Surely not every community is, but we always say it is.
High alert – is there any other kind?
High rate of speed – redundant. Use “speeding.”
Highways and biways –
Hold talks – meet; negotiate
Hollywood is mourning –
Holy See – Never use. Always “Vatican.”
Hoop dreams –
Huge
Hunker down
Iconic
identify the person as a senator after using his title.
If/whether – Use “if” to mean “in the event that” as in this example: “China will protest if other governments change their policies.” Use whether to describe a choice: “Afghanistan is still debating whether it will attend the conference.”
Ill-fated
In a bid to – in an attempt to
In as many days
In as many weeks
In recent memory –
In the aftermath –
In the face of – after
In the runup to –
In the wake of – after
Incarcerated – jailed
Indicated – said
Informed – said, told
Ink – sign
Intense manhunt – is there any other kind?
Investigation revealed – found
Irony vs. coincidence
Jaw-dropping
Join together – redundant
Judge – Judge of the Circuit Court Judge Jane Smith. No need to say “judge” a second time.
Just around the corner –
Juvenile – child, kid, teenager
Key battleground states – aren’t all battleground states key?
Key takeaways – aren’t all takeaways key?
Lacerations and contusions – cuts and bruises
Lag/lagging behind – as opposed to lagging ahead? Just say “lagging.” Have you ever heard of someone or something lagging ahead? (Or “joined together” for that matter?)
Lavish state dinner – aren’t they all?
Lawmakers – members of Congress
Lectern vs. Podium –
Legendary
Let’s get right to it – Now let’s (talk about, consider)
Literally –
Live hit –
Live shot –
Living vicariously – To live vicariously means “to feel or enjoy through imagined participation the experience of others.” So, to say or write “live vicariously through others” is redundant (as is “convicted felon”).
Local hospital –
Local residents –
Lottery ticket – Your audience is not interested in what you would do if you won the lottery. And when you say you would quit your job and lie on the beach all day, you are dissing your employer and your craft. Why would you do that?
Lucky to be alive –
Makeshift memorial
Manhunt – search for
Marital – Often misspelled “martial” on many news sites.
Massive
Meantime –
Meanwhile –
Measure –
Media circus
Meeting of the minds
Minor – child, kid, teenager
Minority Whip –
Misanthropic vs. Anti-social –
More questions than answers
More than/over –
Mother Nature –
Motorist –
Mull –
Nationally-known – Many experts have been told to tell reporters that they are “nationally-known.” Few are. Don’t be involved in someone’s marketing plan. Just report the news.
nation’s midsection
Nazis –
Nearly – use “almost”
Needless to say
New poll – if it isn’t new why would we be reporting it?
New study – if it isn’t new why would we be reporting it?
No word on –
No word yet –
Nod –
Nonagenarian –
North Carolina man –
Noted – use “said.”
Notified – said, told
Observed – saw
Obtained – actually, it was given to you; you were provided with the information
Occupant –
Occurred – happened
Octogenarian –
Official start of Spring/Fall –
Officially divorced/charged/married/sentenced –
Officials –
On a daily basis – just use “daily”
On the agenda
On the heels of – after
On the other side of the break
On the run
On the sidelines of
Only time will tell
Out in full force –
Out of the woods
Over/ More than –
Packed house
packing a punch
Packing winds – Never use. Just give the wind speed. The worst kind of journalese.
Packing – As in “packing winds.” This is journalese. Just say a hurricane “has winds up to/as strong as…”
Packs a powerful punch – damaging, strong
Pact – agreement
Paid tribute to –
Pain at the pump – The gas-price equivalent of “friendly skies.”
Panel – committee
Parent’s worst nightmare –
Past experience –
Past history –
Past mistakes –
Persuade/Convince – You convince somebody of something or you persuade them to do something. You do not convince somebody to do something. Put another way, convincing is winning an argument while persuasion is pushing someone to take an action.
Phrases to stay away from – brave new world, best and the brightest, sparked by, as you know/as you will remember, in recent memory, comes on the heels of and stemmed from.
Physical altercation – fight
PIN number
Pledged – use “promised.”
Podium vs. Lectern –
Pointing the finger of blame – No. Blaming.
Police are investigating – ya think?
Pontiff – Never. use; always “pope.” And no “Holy Father” either!
Pooch – dog
Postponed to a later date – as opposed to an earlier date? “Postponed” is fine.
Premier – never. Use “prime minister.”
Preplanned –
Preps (as an abbreviation for “preparations”). “Preps” or “prepping” doesn’t work. Just say “preparations.” And you don’t need to say “preparations are under way” every single time; just say, “People are preparing for the arrival of Hurricane [name].” (Likewise with “congrats.”)
Prerecorded –
Preselected –
President Obama’s – “terrible, no good, very bad year…” Somebody please tell The Washington Post to stop using this phrase. We’re over it.
Presser – inside lingo for news conference. Don’t use insider lingo on the air to tryto sound cool or with it or inside; that isn’t your role.
Principal/principle –
Probe – Never. Investigation. (Same for GOP.)
Proceeded – went to; began to
Publicly released – if it was released, it was public
Queue/Cue – A queue is a line of people or things, like people lining up at a soup kitchen or a stack of stories waiting to be edited. A cue is a signal to an actor or a billiards implement.
Rain will fall – willya?
Raking it in – earning
Ranking member – Senior Republican/Democrat on the committee
Razed –
Rebuff –
Received a citation – got a ticket
References to Obama headed for “unchartered waters” (you mean “uncharted”).
Rein/Reign – The expression to “rein in” something, like a renegade agency or the national debt, is a metaphor based on bringing a horse to a halt. It has nothing to do with what kings and queens do (i.e. reign).
Repeated titles – When we say someone is the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court, we don’t need to then identify them as Judge John Jones. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell does not need to be identified further as a senator. (As an aside, John Roberts is the Chief Justice of the United States, not the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court; look it up.)
Residence – home
Residents – This is classic journalese. Just say “people who live here.” Even worse: “area residents.” Who says that other than journalists?
Responded – went to
Revert back
Scan vs. Skim –
Secret weapon – overused and generally inaccurate. If we are talking about it,how is it a secret? Almost always used to describe the wife of a politician, so it canbe considering condescending as well as trite.
Secreted – hid
Security is tight – isn’t it always? Do we ever report that security is loose?
Semi-comatose – partly conscious
Senate Minority Leader – Senate Minority Leader Senator Joe Smith. No need to identify the person as a senator after using his title.
Set ablaze –
Shocking
Shots rang out – people heard gunshots. shots are fired; they don’t “ring out”
Shrink – Never. Psychiatrist or psychologist. Never “shrink.”
Shutter/shudder –
Sigh of relief
Size matters – we really want to make an allusion to penis size in our newscasts?
Skim vs. Scan –
Slain – used only by reporters; just say “killed” or “murdered”
Slammed – just say “criticized”
Slap – as in “slap sanctions on.” Just say “place.”
Slated –
Soldier – Often misspelled “solider” on news sites.
Some – As in “some three thousand residents…” You mean approximately, or you mean to say that the number is larger than expected, so say that.–
Speaking out – has become a parody of our writing
Spearhead a measure –
Stave off –
Stem from –
Stinging rebuke – aren’t they all?
Stoke –
Stormtroopers –
Strangled to death –
Stunning
Subject – person
Suffered a heart attack – had a heart attack
Sustained bodily injuries – got hurt
Sustained – More journalese; often, cop-speak. Use “suffered.” (Mrs. B. [aka Mona Scott], who writes a column about broadcast news writing [Grammar Yammer] for the NewsBlues newsletter, notes that “when we can avoid using coptalk or hospital jargon, we connect better with viewers and readers.”
Switching gears –
Take a decision – this is not the UK; here, we make decisions
Take a listen – Never. “Take a look” is acceptable, as is “take a drink,” “listen,” but “take a listen” is something only news anchors say.
Taken to the streets – we’re asking people, people are protesting
Talk about –
TAPS – Never use this as a music bed. Never.
Terrible
terrible tragedy – tragedy
That according to
That as
That/who –
The feds – no. The federal government; federal prosecutors; federal agents. Never
The first hundred days – This is a leftover from the Franklin Roosevelt days and is a purely media construct. It is artificial and meaningless and we shouldn’t be using it.
The good, the bad, the ugly, – of the Obama presidency. The worst of clichés.
The incident remains under investigation – ya think?
The investigation continues – of course it does. Do you really need to say this?
The late –
The move comes as
The nation’s midsection – middle america, just list the city or state
The president’s “future plans.” – Does he have past plans?
The president’s “past experience.” – All experience is in the past.
The royal wedding – American journalism has limited resources and a very heavy news load in the Trump era. That makes it especially difficult to justify any spending, and I mean any, on the upcoming wedding of British Prince Harry to the American actress Meghan Markle. Of course, that American connection will be used to justify the extensive coverage we will no doubt have shoved down our throat, as will the ratings, but in the end we will be spending precious news hours and tens of millions of dollars covering the wedding of a minor American actress to a secondary prince of a long-depleted empire resident on a tiny island.
The time right now – as opposed to five minutes from now?
Their/They’re – Everyone knows the difference between these two, but we use “their” instead of “they’re” too often. Just be aware and think about it.
This as/that as
This is one of the most critical moments in American history – Oh? More so than the Civil War, the Bay of Pigs invasion or Nixon’s resignation? Ease up on the hyperbole.
This may be the most controversial president ever – That may just be true, but then again it may not. In any case, is it wise to use such broad statements? Does it help the audience? What does it even communicate?
This will be the moment Trump will make America great again. No, it won’t be. His presidency will be made up of many moments. And, in any case, that is a campaign slogan, not the task he has in front of him.
This, after
Tied at 2-2 – redundant
Tight-knit community
Time will tell – one of the worst examples of journalese and lazy writing. You
should never use this phrase.
To be sure –
To the tune of
Tonoight – We tend to pronounce “tonight” as “tonoight.” Why?
Took him to –
Took to Facebook –
Took to Twitter –
Torso –
Tough job – As in, “It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it.” Invariably said by a reporter in a warm climate as she or he is talking to an anchor in a snowy climate. Not original. Not clever. Does not make you sound conversational. Does make you sound trite. Do not use.
Tout –
Tragic
Trained pediatrician – aren’t they all?
Transitions –
Transported – taken to
Trove –
Try and/Try to –
Two thousand and 14 – drop the “and”
U.S. officials – Never. American officials.
Unanswered questions
Unbelievable
Unceremoniously fired –
Unless editors step in, every story on the Obama legacy will almost assuredly end in almost the same way, as this one does: “His legacy is likely to be fiercely debated for decades to come.” Ya think? That’s both bad writing and poor editing. Isn’t every president’s legacy “fiercely debated for decades…”? (Almost as bad: “time will tell.” Of course it will! It always does! So why say it?)
Unreal
Up close and personal – cliché
Up for grabs – cliché
Up in arms – cliché
Upping – Never. Increasing.
Veepstakes – never use.
Vehicle was towed and stored – the car was impounded
Vehicle –
Verbal altercation – argument
Very professional – professional
Very unique – unique means one of a kind so it cannot be modified
Vicious brawl – is there any other kind?
Vies – No. Tries; Attempts; Campaigns for.
VIN number –
Violent explosion – is there any other kind?
Violent tornado – is there any other kind?
Vowed – use “promised.”
Vows – No. Promises.
Vying –
War chest –
War of words
Warned in advance – is there any other kind
Was the former – no. Is the former.
Weather woes
Weatherwise/Speakingwise – this makes you sound uneducated.
Went missing – disappeared
Went on to say –
Went terribly wrong
We’re getting word – (reporter) just let us know…
We’re live – (reporter) is there right now, let’s look at..
When someone’s mother or father or spouse dies, there’s generally no need to note that they were “beloved” by their children or spouse, even if its true. We don’t need to be cliche. Show why the person was beloved rather than just saying they were beloved. Otherwise, you’re just assuming, aren’t you? Not every spouse or mother or father is beloved; for all you know, they could have been awful people and their passing a relief. Its another example of getting in trouble with adjectives. Report what you know, not what you think you know.
White stuff –
Who/that –
Whopping –
Windy City – No. Chicago.
Winter wallop
Wooded area –
Words to stay away from: icon, legend, amid.
Workmen’s comp – worker’s comp
Workweek –
Wreaked havoc – caused a scene, caused a mess
Wreaking havoc –
Youth