Language guide · 15 entries
Vague attribution
A claim assigned to unnamed people, so the reader cannot judge the source.
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.
a lot of people are sayingeveryone is talking aboutpeople are saying
Unfalsifiable attribution.
More neutral: name who
according to expertsexperts agreeexperts sayexperts warn
Charged when no expert is named in the piece.
More neutral: name the experts and their field
according to sourcesinsiders saysources saidsources say
Anonymous sourcing is sometimes necessary; good practice explains who they are and why.
More neutral: describe the sources' position and why they are anonymous
allegedly claimedreportedly
Which report? Link or name it.
More neutral: cite the report
amid rumorsrumor has itrumoredrumors swirl
Publishes a rumor while disclaiming it.
More neutral: report only what can be confirmed, or name the source of the rumor
analysts sayobservers noteobservers say
Anonymous consensus.
More neutral: name the observers
are said tois said to
Passive voice hiding the source.
More neutral: say who says so
critics arguecritics claimcritics contendcritics saycritics warn
Which critics, and how many? The reader cannot weigh an unnamed source.
More neutral: name the critics
it has been suggestedit is suggested
Passive voice hiding the source.
More neutral: say who suggested it
it is believedit is thoughtit is understoodit's believed
Passive voice hiding the source.
More neutral: say who believes it
many arguemany believemany fearmany feelmany say
'Many' is a number the writer did not count.
More neutral: cite a poll or name who
questions have been raisedquestions remainraises questionsraising questions
The writer is raising the question while pretending someone else did.
More neutral: state the question and who is asking
some arguesome believesome claimsome say
'Some' can mean one person on social media.
More neutral: name who
special interests
Everyone's opponents are special interests; name them.
More neutral: name the groups
widely consideredwidely regarded aswidely seen aswidely viewed as
Consensus asserted without evidence.
More neutral: by whom? cite