• Editor's blog

    Musings on London science, from the biggest London obsessive you'll ever meet.

    • Which weasel words wind you up?

      Friday, 28 Sep 2007 - 15:06 GMT

      Sense About Science wants to know.

      This London-based organisation tackles misrepresentations of science, from poor reporting to shoddy advertising.

      Their Voice of Young Science programme has almost completed a new publication, There goes the science bit, which challenges misleading claims and the use of dodgy science to promote products.

      To coincide, they want you to vote for the most irritating terms, or weasel words, that mean nothing, but sound impressive. They’ve narrowed it down to three: good/bad bacteria, detox diets and chemical-free.

      And because we don’t want our comments section to be free of all additives, please suggest your own most hated weasel words below.

      Last updated: Friday, 28 Sep 2007 - 15:06 GMT

      • Comments

        • Date:
          Saturday, 29 Sep 2007 - 16:31 GMT
          Paul Wicks said:

          “natural”, “noticeably reduced the appearence of…”, “clinically proven”

        • Date:
          Saturday, 06 Oct 2007 - 20:19 GMT
          Ed Yong said:

          Any headline that ends in the words “official”, “proven” or “fact”.


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