Every Word Counts

Do you ever listen to the weather forecast on TV or online, without watching it? When our attention is not split between viewing and listening at the same time, we can focus on the words and phrases used to convey a forecast. Regardless of the time allotted, a video weather presentation can be more effective by economizing words. Reducing words and sentences allows the presenter to breathe more naturally and put more effort into telling a compelling story.

The simple way to economize is to rid redundant words, repeated thoughts, and jargon that may cloud the message or cause confusion. Why say "it's cloudy outside", when one can simply say, "it's cloudy"? Why say "as you can see", if the viewer is seeing it? Why tell viewers that there are "heavy downpours", when a downpour is a heavy fall of rain?! Why say "precipitation", in the heat of the summer when it must be rain?

In Every Word Counts, we review words and phrases that can be limited or banned, for the benefit of the viewer or listener. We'll take a light-hearted look at "top ten" lists of weather cliche's, redundant weather phrases, and wasteful words, all to improve communication of weather information.