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I’m convinced there are some words that we reporters use that don’t really exist. I mean, sure, they exist now, and we hear them all the time, but, nevertheless, these words aren’t real.
For example, the word “motorist.” When was the last time you used it in a regular conversation? I’ve heard people say they saw other drivers on the road, but never other “motorists.” “I was motorist-ing along I-15 when another motorist cut me off! Some people really need to learn how to motorize.”
We all have words that we can’t stand hearing. You should see our News Director, Sheryl Worsley’s face when someone uses the word “allegedly.” It’s as if someone went up and down her spine with a cheese grater. She’s heard it so often she’s grown sick of it, and there are other words to use instead of that one.
The word I can’t stand: “enthusiast.”
Who thought this word up? I know what it means, but, really, is it even necessary?
Here’s the headline:
“The Storms Are Great News for Snow Enthusiasts.”
I don’t know if anyone has ever said, “I’m so enthused, there’s snow!”
“Really? Do you plan on going skiing or sledding or something?”
“No. I’m just enthused. I’m going to go out in the snow and pet it and hug it and cuddle with it and call it George. I just love snow!!”
People who like skiing or biking should be called skiers or bikers in my opinion, not ski or bicycling “enthusiasts.”
While we’re talking about verbiage, who taught police officers how to talk? I think they make things a little more complicated then they need to be.
For example:
“The male suspect in question departed from the suspected stolen vehicle, after which we engaged in a foot pursuit during which we lost visual contact with the male suspect. We were able to ascertain his whereabouts through verbal testimony of nearby witnesses. He was then spotted in a wooded portion in the rear section of a resident’s home in the area.”
What he could have said was:
“Our suspect jumped out of the stolen car and ran away, and that’s when we lost him. A witness told us where he was, and we found him in someone’s backyard bushes.”
