In grading a batch of REM 100 term papers (the class I TA), I have noticed that when students are presented with a lengthy assignment they begin inserting many empty words and phrases. One such example:
"Deforestation is harmful to the environment."
The use of the word "harmful" provides an immediate subjective and emotional response in the reader. In "scientific" writing this is highly frowned upon. What defines "scientific" writing might be the topic for another blog post, but peppering in extremely value-contentious words and phrases is not "scientific".
I recently read a paper that deals with these empty words and phrases. The author had this to say:
"We don’t listen any more. Perhaps this is because words are very cheap and so many are thrown away each day. Our loss of critical listening skills leaves us vulnerable to manipulation by words which have no meaning but seem to describe a desirable situation. These empty words can evoke a strong, reflexive reaction just like the leg movement when the knee is stuck. In both cases the reaction is produced without the stimulus passing through the brain."
"Empty phrases are meaningless and loaded with emotion. Their use takes away the opportunity for calm, objective discussions of risk, time scales, degree of disturbance and the important ecosystem characteristics of recovery and adaptability."
While I don't agree with the author entirely, I think he hit on what empty words and phrases are with that last quote. This may sound a lot like my "ambiguity" post from a while back. That being, REM 100ers using to many ambiguous words, but I think it worth posting again in this incarnation.
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