Working With Words: GM’s List of Banned Words for Employees
“Hindenburg,” “powder keg,” “Titanic,” and “apocalyptic.” These words probably aren’t banned in your office, but General Motors instructed employees to avoid using these and other words and phrases—68 total—in internal communications about safety issues. Words like “deathtrap,” “widowmaker,” and “rolling sarcophagus,” are out, as are phrases such as “This is a death trap waiting to happen,” and “Unbelievable engineering screw-up.” GM calls these things “judgment words.” The company told employees