Submitted by Victor on
Promoting the use of clear language among children’s rights advocates
In the same way that authors use jargon in NGO reports to sound impressive, clichés also sneak in the barn door when we try to be creative with language.
By definition, a cliché is an overused, predictable and unoriginal phrase or expression. And despite the temptation to use what we think is colourful wording, clichés tend to work against the author, as they demonstrate a lazy use of language.
The clichés that mostly appear in human rights literature are the type that conveys a figurative sense of a phrase different from its literal meaning – an offence of which CRIN is also admittedly guilty! For instance, in a previous CRINmail, we used the expression “Moving forward” in relation to a State's increased concern for children’s rights issues. However, by this, we were not alluding to actual physical movement, but to the progress that was being made. In retrospect, “Making progress” would have in fact been a clearer and more accurate alternative.
We also came across other clichés in the human rights literature, including:
• “the bottom line” (the most important aspect of a situation)
• “raising the bar” (setting a higher standard)
• “pushing the envelope” (to reach and extend the limits of what is possible)
• “bridge building” (improving relationships between individuals or groups)
When writing your next report, you may have to think harder to avoid such expressions, given how easy it is to slip one in without realising. As journalists and other professional writers would probably suggest: avoid clichés when plain alternatives exist (such as the ones above). This will work in your favour, as you will be presenting your ideas in a more articulate and straightforward way, which your readers will appreciate because 1) it’s easier to engage with, and 2) it doesn’t turn reading a report into an eye-rolling exercise!