“Moving forward”, “… are we on a burning tower here?”, “to be honest with you”, are samples of truisms, or conversation embellishments that are a part of contemporary language, usage and conversation – which drives one mad.

Comments on truisms in contemporary language to consider :

Are they necessary? No.
Do they make sense? No.
Are they useless? Yes.

What are the alternatives? One can start by substituting an uncomfortable pause in the conversation, rather than being tempted to fill it. In the prevailing pause one may think of something concise or compelling to say. Or one can never substitute a good – ummm, or arrrrh, as a conversation tactic as well. One can also seek out members of our community who are concise in speech and delivery and put in place a process that helps one understand how they achieve this result, and practice.

Example :

It is a good thing to consider our carbon footprint, because moving forward, we will all benefit from a clean environment.

Try

It is thoughtful to consider the carbon we expend in our day-to-day life, because in the end everyone will benefit from a clean environment.

Winston Churchill’s World War II speeches are inspired samples of writing and delivery. To respectfully aside the context of politics and history surrounding Churchill’s speech, following is a fine example of concise thinking, writing and delivery.

In a recent written piece for the Opinion and Editorial section of The Age newspaper, Andrew Pegler, plain English editor and copywriter, employed the work of Winston Churchill to make a point of the use of jargon, legal speak and truisms in contemporary writing.

Read Pegler’s comment on contemporary writing here

Comment?