Exaggerated Language

Here are two instances of exaggerated language from the Star Tribune in the past week or so.

First, the use of the word "climb" to describe a 1 percent increase in violent crime.


What do you think of when you hear the word "climb"? Is it an increase of 1 percent? To me, it implies more than that, especially when crime rates are at a historic low. If your broker told you your stock portfolio had "climbed" 1 percent, wouldn't you feel a bit duped?

Then there's the "surge" in injuries to workers at the state's Security Hospital:


Check out that graph at right. Yes, there's been an increase in injuries between 2013 and 2014, but there was a decrease the year before, and it's been up and down each year. There's no trend in that graph, let alone a surge.