How does writers use loaded words

Loaded language is seen as problematic and dangerous. Some often go as far as calling it brainwashing language. This may largely stem from its ability to strongly influence people, often without their knowledge. But despite its negative reputation, loaded language is not inherently bad. If it was, then the majority of poetry would be considered bad, as most loaded words are often descriptive and expressive—the kind of words poetry frequently uses.

One of the most powerful skills you have as a writer is evoking emotion from your readers. Without emotion, your writing is at risk of falling flat, which means your audience might not fully grasp your intended meaning. The problem is that emotion is one of the hardest things to incorporate into a written work. This is where loaded language comes in. Cookbooks and memoirs often use them to make their content more vivid. In journalism, by contrast, neutrality is key.

This is why most news agencies like Al Jazeera and Reuters have internal policies about loaded terms, even banning some of them. Book Units Teacher. Walk Two Moons Activities. Mar This is the third post in a series of four on using persuasive techniques or propaganda devices. This post contains several commercials that use loaded terms to advertise their products. Phrases with loaded terms have words that evoke strong emotions. Advertisements, speeches, and writers all use loaded terms.

Politicians use loaded words in speeches when trying to put a positive spin on delicate issues. Often speeches use words that trigger strong feelings. We use language to appeal to emotion in our everyday conversation. It's also beneficial when delivering a persuasive speech , making it a fan-favorite of politicians, public figures, advertisers, and corporations.

Let's take a look at some loaded language examples to get a better sense. Loaded words are a persuasive technique that has also been called emotive language, high-inference language, or loaded terms. It is often used in order to:. The noted writer George Orwell in a discussion of using loaded language had this to say in Politics and the English Language :.

In the case of a word like democracy, not only is there no agreed definition, but the attempt to make one is resisted from all sides. It is almost universally felt that when we call a country democratic we are praising it: consequently the defenders of every kind of regime claim that it is a democracy, and fear that they might have to stop using that word if it were tied down to any one meaning.

While loaded language may have a tendency toward brainwashing or persuasion , it's not always intended to sway the audience. Sometimes, the speaker or writer is merely trying to inform or motivate an audience. This is known as rhetoric. Rhetoric uses language that appeals to emotions but the main goal is to share logic or values. For more on that, enjoy these examples of rhetoric. Often, loaded language exists as a substitute for other words or phrases, one more negative or positive than the other depending on the circumstance.

A loaded word is chosen because the speaker or writer believes it'll be more persuasive than an alternate neutral word. Foreign words are also often used as loaded language, providing an air of knowledge, culture or pretense.

Some common examples include:. Certain metaphorical phrases can also be loaded. We see these most often in idioms. These phrases aren't intended to be taken literally. Rather, they're meant to make a statement and stick in the minds of others.