The power of words, for better or for worse...

Words are indeed powerful; they can influence and shape our thoughts and feelings. I am sure anyone who reads these extracts below from a story about a socialite in today's Sunday Times (Aug 25) will -- from whatever point of view -- form his or her own opinion:

Here's another arguably vivid example of the power of words; but the setting could not have been more different. I say "arguably" because the video below is probably enacted by actors but the message is still compelling:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU

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Not all words have a clarifying transforming power. An increasing array of empty buzzwords that dull our senses have already insinuated themselves into the English vocabulary. The British government is alarmed enough to start taking action:

  

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So, how bad is the situation in Singapore? Bad, I'm afraid. This letter to The Sunday Times offers one glimpse:

The professionals themselves, who should know better, have become careless!...

Just what is a "teachable moment"? True, you'll find explanations of this silly phrase on the Internet but none is satisfactory. In this other example, the culprit is the headline writer, not the letter writer:

So, it seems, one can come up with any kind of "moment", like an "Oscar moment"... 

Taking it to the next level?...

Among all the offending buzzwords, I nominate "moving forward"/"going forward" as the worst!...

I shall be looking out for more such vacuous nonentities.