by Amelia Schaffer

Created on: September 18, 2009

"Weasel words" are words and phrases that are imprecise and ambiguous. These words include "many," "often," "research shows," and "experts say"; they appear to support an argument but do not refer to any clear sources or evidence. While weasel words can provide an article with a more friendly an accessible tone, they make for weaker arguments and less accurate writing.

Didn't Do the Research

One reason for using weasel words is a lack of research. In the absence of solid facts, authors who have not researched enough need to work harder to sell their arguments to readers. "Experts agree" and "studies reveal" become code for "I read it in a book once and can't be bothered to look it up again." With all the information on the internet at an author's fingertips, there is little excuse for such weaseling. One should take a bit more time to look up solid sources and figures to provide real support to an argument.

Anecdotal Evidence

Sometimes used in combination with or as a result of not doing the research, anecdotal evidence is used by writers to support arguments based on their own personal experiences rather than explicit, provable facts. Depending on the article's tone and subject matter, anecdotal evidence can be acceptable; however, it is problematic when it is not clearly stated as such, or when it is used to support a more generalized argument.

Anecdotal evidence in advice articles makes a stronger argument when it is phrased as "this worked for me, it might work for you" as opposed to "this has worked for some people." Whenever possible, however, it is best to back up this advice with studies or other evidence proving that one's anecdotal experience is not just a scientific outlier.

Weasel Words in Internet Articles

There are somewhat different standards for weasel words on the internet than in print due to the ability to link to sources rather than stating them in the text of an article. For example, the phrase "studies show" is a weasel word if it is left alone, but its status is not as clear if the author links that phrase to news reports about various studies supporting the argument. This ability of online content writers to add links instead of citing sources more explicitly allows for a more casual, less scientific tone while still providing clear evidence for their arguments. If weasel words must be used, they should be used in this context.

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