Ahhh the Weasel Word

What is a weasel word?

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as: A word used in order to evade or retreat from a direct or forthright statement or position

Some examples of weasel words I see regularly:

• Supports
• Appears
• Most
• Almost all
• Virtually
• May
• Possibly

Somewhat of a “third rail” for analysts, I have found that many instructors we hire side-step the issue of weasel words all together due to (in my opinion) the political ramifications and sensitivity of there use. The problem is that because analysis is by definition not fact, using weasel words are almost always required for analytical products (see how I used almost there?) At the same time, consumers of analysis tend to dislike weasel words because perfect information is preferable to conjecture when making tough decisions.

This can put analysts in awkward situations as there is a strong incentive for analyst to be vague: It is generally a far safer career choice for analysts to produce products with non-committal conclusions than it is to making bold assessments that may turn out to be completely wrong.

A good theoretical example of how a former Soviet Union analyst might have covered their ass with weasel words...

Analyst in 1988: "It is highly unlikely the Berlin Wall will fall within the next five years"

Policymaker in 1989:"WTF..."

Analyst in 1989: "I wasn't certain (I said likely). More funding could possibly prevent a similar misjudgment in the future (used possibly)."

Perhaps a somewhat dramatized example, but I hope you get the point.

Prestigious older analysts may feel they are in a politically strong enough position (or close enough to retirement) that they don’t mind the controversy of addressing weasel words and design standardized rating scales that attempt to assign quantitative values to specific words. This is supposed to give policymakers less vague analysis while still offering analysts some "weasel" protection. However, forcing analysts to leave the safety-net of ambiguous weasel words has only partially worked as many maintain an extra-conservative stance in their ratings.

As for our students, we don't pull punches on the topic of weasel words; students get a frank explanation on the pros, cons, and political mess that come with the territory.