It was Groundhog Day last week. I don’t have any editing stories about groundhogs, but I do want to talk about an arguably verminous aspect of writing: weasel words and waffling. Haven’t heard of these terms? Read on to find out.

Should you lose your bearings in the woods, just bear east, past the burial ground, and you will soon arrive at the berry patch. This time of year, the shrubs bear delicious berries. But beware: