This note falls under the heading of Pet Peeves. Those who work in the profession of journalism should have mastery and use the correct words to describe precisely what they intend to say.

Here’s a short list of the most commonly misused words that are cringeworthy.

UNDENIABLE – From MSNBC “It’s undeniable that extreme weather comes from climate change.” Wrong! There are plenty of dolts who deny climate change. The proper word here is irrefutable. It can be denied, but it cannot be credibly refuted.

DECIMATE – This is so common I won’t single out a particular journalist or outlet. Decimate is removing one-in-ten. When something is DESTROYED or ELIMINATED, or RAVAGED or RAZED or several other terms that speak to catastrophic damage, then those terms should be used, pleased.

PARTIALLY DESTROYED – While we’re at it, lets stick with heavily damaged and let destroy still own the territory of those things that once were and no are no longer.

NAUSEOUS – Again, widely misused when the speakers say I’m nauseous when they should say NAUSEATED. Things that are nauseous make us nauseated. But I am forced to reluctantly concede that since I took my journalism classes, this word has so often been misused that the misuse is now considered one of the two standard uses, the other being the prior, and I think proper, use.

REFORM – And the classic, pounded into me by my editor more than 40 years ago, REFORM. To reform is to IMPROVE THROUGH CHANGE. Not all changes are improvements, and politicians love to talk about their proposed reforms when, in fact, it remains to be seen whether the changes will actually result in improvements. There may be unforeseen or unintended disadvantages or problems, or the improvements may be minor and not realized in the areas most needed. Stick with changes until the changes merit the use of the word reform.

And your pet peeves?

PS – If you really care about language, in addition to William Strunk and EB White’s The Elements of Style, you should buy yourself a copy of the Associated Press’s AP Stylebook.