Stop ‘Pivoting’ Please!

I don't know why this bothers me but if I read or hear one more journalist or talking head say "Let's pivot", I will scream. Just say "Let's change course" or "Let's scrap our plans to investigate Hunter Biden" or "Let's stop using tired jargon and show a little intellectual spark."

I never heard anyone say pivot outside the ballet world before 2017. Then it was everywhere. I went to grad school in London and, mercifully, the dreaded "pivot" stayed back in America. Yah! But wait, I had to move back to the U.S. when my student visa expired ... and guess what awaited me. Probably someone at Customs was dusting it off as I - newly educated by real English speakers, poor in purse but rich in thought - arrived at Newark.

I also cannot stand when anchors tell viewers they will talk to us "on the other side". They mean the commercial break, but for the past couple years, "pivoted" to saying other side. This makes me wonder what other jargon awaits: the virtual watercooler? The blinking red light? The self-important incurious journalist?

I realize that journalism isn't fine art, but it is affecting millions of Americans each day. Children pass TV screens and mimic what they hear. Later that day, little Laurie will say to Little Bobby, "Let's pivot at recess and play tetherball instead!"

Words matter. I urge all journalists to eschew jargon and clichés in favor of succinct prose. Yes, it takes more time to use your brain rather than lean on a tired phrase ... that is the point.

Image: By Ruizo at French Wikipedia - Transferred from fr.wikipedia to Commons by Korrigan