Forbidden Words

In their haste to finish stories, reporters and rewritemen often reach for a cliche instead of a fresh phrase. To stop this practice, City Editor James H. Richardson of Hearst's Los Angeles Examiner (circ. 324,468) last week printed a special list of 85 "Forbidden Words" for his staff. Among the banned words and phrases: dragnet, aired, bared (for revealed), legal bombshell, probe (for investigate), sweeping investigations, innocent bystander, fair sex, goodies, kiddies, smoking weapon, dropped dead, ill-gotten gains, minced no words, nuptial knot, socialite, tongue-lashing, whirlwind courtship.

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