May I have a word about… replacing violent words with more positive language

A communications guru wants us to tone down ‘undesirable’ words and phrases. How undesirable

When exactly did we become such a collection of milksops, pussyfooters and scaredy cats? This thorny query arises after the pronouncement from Anna Taylor, a communications director based in the US, who has written a guide called Evolving from Violent Language, in which she enumerates words and phrases that are now deemed undesirable.

These include “jump the gun”, “roll with the punches” and “straight shooter”. She wants to appeal to those who would prefer to replace violent idioms with more positive language, so out goes “pull the trigger” and in its place comes “going to launch”, while “kill two birds with one stone” becomes “feeding two birds with one scone”.

Now hold on, it gets far, far worse. “Not bad” is also on the list – this should in future become “good idea”. So much for the great virtue of British understatement, it would seem. I hesitate to say that there is an element of overkill in her claims, as I’m sure that would also be on her list of undesirable words.

Elsewhere, reader Pamela Sellers writes: “As a PPLO or public path liaison officer for Somerset county council, I walk footpaths in the parish of Whitelackington and need to read and acknowledge a module on Data Protection Awareness. In the section on lone working, I am asked if I am medically fit and suitable to ‘role’ alone!” That’s really not very nice, is it?

Richard Cree received the following brain-twister from BT: “As I can see the order is with open exception (FAULTY PLANT D SIDE) we are escalating your order and sending a mail to the FOM as soon as exception get close we will provide you further update please review back on 6/02/2023.” As he helpfully adds: “There’s a badly installed fibre optic cable that needs untangling, but I fear there’s more at Openreach that needs untangling first.”

Email jonathan.bouquet@observer.co.uk

Jonathan Bouquet is an Observer columnist

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