Language guide · 20 entries

Euphemism

Softening language that hides what happened.

Every entry says why the wording is loaded and what a neutral writer would use instead. An entry marked “depends on context” is highlighted only when Mantle’s AI confirms it is loaded where it appears.

abortion care
Adds a positive frame to the procedure's name.
More neutral: abortion
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
alternate electorsalternative electorscontingent electors
Softens a contested act into a routine procedure.
More neutral: people who signed certificates claiming to be electors
Used mainly on the right
alternative facts
Rebrands falsehood.
More neutral: false statements
Used mainly on the right
boots on the ground
Reduces soldiers to footwear.
More neutral: troops, soldiers
Used on both sidesDepends on context
collateral damage
Military jargon that hides deaths.
More neutral: civilian casualties, civilians killed
Used on both sides
detaineddetainees
Legal term that can obscure indefinite imprisonment; specify the status.
More neutral: arrested, held, imprisoned (specify legal status)
Used on both sidesDepends on context
downsizingrestructuringrightsizing
Corporate phrasing that hides job losses.
More neutral: layoffs, cutting (number) jobs
Used on both sidesDepends on context
eliminatedneutralizeneutralized
Hides a death.
More neutral: killed
Used on both sidesDepends on context
enhanced interrogation
Coined to avoid the legal term.
More neutral: torture (as defined under international law), describe the techniques
Used mainly on the right
houselesspeople experiencing homelessnessthe unhousedunhoused
Advocacy rewording; the plain term is clear and not an insult.
More neutral: homeless people
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
justice involvedjustice-involvedreturning citizenssystem-impacted
Softens the fact of conviction or incarceration until the meaning is unclear.
More neutral: people with criminal records, people released from prison
Used mainly on the left
kinetic actionkinetic military actionkinetic strike
Jargon that hides violence.
More neutral: military strike, attack
Used on both sides
misspoke
Frames a false statement as a slip.
More neutral: said incorrectly, made a false statement
Used on both sidesDepends on context
mostly peaceful
Widely mocked because it can minimize violence; give both facts.
More neutral: describe both the protest and any violence
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
officer involved shootingofficer-involved shooting
Police public-relations phrasing that removes the actor from the sentence.
More neutral: police shot, an officer shot
Used on both sides
passed away
Gentle in obituaries; in news it can soften responsibility. Low severity.
More neutral: died
Used on both sidesDepends on context
precision strikesurgical strike
Asserts precision the reporter cannot verify.
More neutral: airstrike, missile strike
Used on both sidesDepends on context
reproductive freedomreproductive health carereproductive rights
Umbrella phrase that avoids the word at issue. The opposing side's vocabulary is flagged too.
More neutral: abortion rights, abortion and contraception access
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context
revenue enhancementrevenue measures
Hides a tax increase.
More neutral: tax increase
Used on both sides
undocumentedundocumented immigrantundocumented immigrants
Softens the legal situation; many have documents, just not authorization. The opposing term is flagged too.
More neutral: immigrant without legal status, unauthorized immigrant
Used mainly on the leftDepends on context