Writing Tip: Weed Out Weasel Words!

Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.

Updated 11.16.2023 by Kathy Widenhouse, award-winning content writer, website publisher, and author of 9 books.

You’ve probably done it. I mean … You HAVE done it.

You’ve used weasel words in your writing.

I have, too. (I did it just now, in the first sentence of this piece.)

Weasels are words that equivocate. They are vague qualifiers like generally, most, and probably that weaken your writing.

Writers use weasel words to avoid making direct statements. It is easy to miss weasels as you self-edit. You may think you can fudge your way through writing by using fuzzy language.

You can’t. So don’t.

Why Writers Use Weasel Words

Uncertainty

You use weasels when you’re confused about your point or you’re not sure what you want to write. Ambiguous terms allow you to equivocate. The end result is that you get something on paper but it is weak or cloudy.

Fear

You use weasels when afraid of making a bold statement. You may know what you want to write, but you lack the courage to do so … or you don’t have the depth to present a truth with grace. These words give you an out.

Deniability

You use weasels to protect yourself or to dodge taking a stand. If you don’t say anything, the thinking goes, you cannot be wrong. You can’t hurt people. You can’t make your readers angry. You can avoid criticism.

Uncertainty, fear, deniability … is that what you want to be known for as a writer?

Me, neither.

How to Fix Weasels

1. Find them. Make your search for weasels part of your self-editing process. Use the list below to get started. (Add to it in the Comments section when you think of other weasley qualifiers.)

2. Delete them.

3. Read the resulting statement to see if it works.

If the resulting statement without weasels is confusing …

Get clarity with your ideas. Determine what you want to say and then say it. (You can always edit it!)

If the resulting statement without weasels is too bold …

Write the strongest statement you can to take its place. Remain truthful!

If the resulting statement without weasels has no substance …   

Ask yourself whether or not you have something to say. If not, then delete the sentence 

A Word to the Wise

Weed out weasels to write clearly, truthfully, and substantively. Your readers will thank you by continuing to read what you write.

A Fun Fact

The term “weasel words” first appeared in a short story by author Stewart Chaplin titled, "Stained Glass Political Platform," published in The Century Magazine in June 1900. But it was popularized in a 1916 speech by former U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt.

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