Since the beginning of this year, the world has witnessed one historic event after another. First came the uprising in Tunisia, followed by mass protests in several countries in the Middle East. The situation has come to a boil in Libya, which is facing a protracted civil war.
Meanwhile, a devastating earthquake and tsunami hit northeast Japan. Dangers of a nuclear meltdown are still with us more than a month later.
Yet despite the severity of the events, governments have often tried to obscure things with euphemisms.
Euphemisms are intended to make unpleasant or embarrassing things sound more pleasant. Yet there is a fine line between trying to be polite and trying to hide the true meaning of things.
In their statements about the troubled power plant, Japanese officials have assured us that the situation was 'stable, relatively speaking', and the matter was 'under investigation'.
Such expressions are deliberately vague so that they obscure the reality of what is happening. Even some of the Japanese public, which is well used to indirect pronouncements by officials, has spoken out against the lack of honesty and clarity.
It is true that there is a need to avoid alarming people needlessly. Yet hazy statements can both confuse people and erode their trust.