"So-called" this. "So-called" that.
So-called sucks.
I've nominated "so-called" for consideration to Lake Superior State University's Banned Words listing. It's the most overused phrase in the news media today and projects something in a negative light that the media itself dislikes. It's also a way for them to insert their opinions into a supposed "neutral" story.
"So-called Star Wars" is already on the banished list, but that doesn't go far enough. "So-called" itself has to go.
Some recent examples of how this phrase is used as an attack adjective:
From the Minneapolis Star Tribune--headline reads: "Our so-called stimulus plan: Help where it's needed least."
From MacDailyNews.com--headline reads: "So-called ‘analyst’ finds his ‘missing’ iPhones"
From the UK's Daily Mail--headline reads: "So-called 'friendly' bacteria may be dangerous, according to new research - so which should you be taking?"
From the Bankok Post--article on "Another government, another war on drugs": "The first war on drugs declared by the government of Mr Thaksin from Feb 1 to April 30, 2003 resulted in the deaths of over 2500 so-called drug suspects..."
From the Manila Standard Today--article on the government of the Philippines taking steps to declaring one of the nation's airports the primary gateway to the country: "That was the big news yesterday. But while EO 500-B effectively abolishes restrictions on budget airlines operating in Clark and Subic, the so-called “Open Skies” policy still has restrictions on Ninoy Aquino International Airport."
There are hundreds of articles online with this phrase. Do a Google search on so-called under the news tab; you'll see exactly what I mean.
Many uses of the phrase were in editorials, but more than a few were in news stories and on blogs. I've used the phrase a few times myself but have gone to great lengths to not use it; even to the point of altering entire articles to make use of other more descriptive terms other than "so-called."
If it's a neutral news story, "so-called" has no place in it. The phrase conveys bias under cover of neutrality. That's my opinion on the matter.
Many uses of the phrase were in editorials, but more than a few were in news stories and on blogs. I've used the phrase a few times myself but have gone to great lengths to not use it; even to the point of altering entire articles to make use of other more descriptive terms other than "so-called."
If it's a neutral news story, "so-called" has no place in it. The phrase conveys bias under cover of neutrality. That's my opinion on the matter.
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