Wikipedia:Embrace weasel words

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This is an essay. It is not a policy or guideline. Please update the page as needed, or discuss it on the talk page.

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Some think that weasels are cute. Occasionally, we should embrace them. However, it has been asserted that this is a picture of a ferret, a member of the mustelid family, which may include weasels.

Some experts assert a weasel word is a word that is intended to, or has the effect of, softening the force of a potentially loaded or otherwise controversial statement, or avoids forming a clear position on a particular issue. The quintessential example of weasel words is the phrase "Some people say".

Wikipedia has a style guide entitled Avoid weasel words which strongly discourages the use of weasel words. However, a minority of editors feel that weasel words are helpful and appropriate in some cases. In these instances, some editors feel that we should embrace weasel words, not avoid them.

1 Conserving brain space
2 Other times to embrace weasel words
3 When not to embrace
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Conserving brain space

Some neuroscientists claim that every time you learn a new fact, you must necessarily forget some other fact in order to make room for the new fact to fit inside your head. (Admittedly, neuroscientists who subscribe to this theory invariably cannot recall why they believe it, and if you try to explain to them why the theory is flawed, they will run from the room while shrieking loudly, lest your teachings cause them to forget their happiest childhood memory.)

Though the science may be flawed, the point is valid: don't bother the readers with details they don't need to know. Don't tell them a name if they don't need to know it. Instead, embrace weasel words, and back those weasel words up with a citation:

Bad: His critics have suggested that John Smith may be a functional illiterate.

Better: Author Ed Jones, in his book John Smith is an Idiot, wrote an open letter to Smith asking, "John, are you able to read and write on an adult level?'"

Best!: One author even suggested that John Smith may be a functional illiterate.^[1]

If a belief is sufficiently prevalent, we shouldn't let weaselphobia stop us from clearly saying so. There's no need to clutter up the writing by picking some random person who has that belief and dragging him into the text. Just tell the facts--- don't think that the words "some people" are profanities.

Bad: Mr. Guy WhoIsntFamous and others like him believe Bigfoot exists, but most experts are skeptical.

Good!: While some people believe Bigfoot exists, most experts are skeptical.

In some cases, a viewpoint isn't particularly prevalent and its adherent isn't particularly famous. Many people may have a legitimate reason to mention the viewpoint, but we don't want to trouble the reader with names they don't really need to know. In this case, we can still use weasel words, but it's essential that they be backed up with a good citation:

Bad: Some people believe the Flying Spaghetti Monster exists, but most experts are skeptical.

Better: Some people, such as Mr. Guy WhoIsntFamous, believe the Flying Spaghetti Monster exists, but most experts are skeptical.

Best!: Some people believe the Flying Spaghetti Monster exists^[2], but most experts are skeptical.

[edit] Other times to embrace weasel words

Avoid weasel words gives examples of some other cases where weasel words are good:

When the belief or opinion is actually the topic of discussion.

"In the Middle Ages, most people believed that the Sun revolved around the Earth."

When the holders of the opinion are too diverse or numerous to qualify.

"Some people prefer dogs as pets; others prefer cats."

When contrasting a minority opinion, it's not necessary to source the majority opinion when describing the minority one.

"Although Brahms's work is part of the classical music canon, Benjamin Britten has questioned its value."

[edit] When not to embrace

It is assumed by many that weasel words may improve readability and verifiability, but they are often the hallmark of serious NPOV problems. You should avoid controversial weasel words that aren't backed up by citation. There are other situations where weasel words absolutely should be avoided:

If you couldn't back them up with a citation if you were asked to, don't use them.
If the opinion itself isn't notable, don't mention it-- to do so may be giving it undue weight.
If the "some people" are particularly noteworthy, don't call them "some people", just name them instead.