The Company's way with words

The CIA has a style guide: "The information CIA gathers and the analysis it produces mean little if we cannot convey them effectively". I've picked some bits out, particularly words which spooks may confuse.

Fake analysis: Phrases like the following betray sloppy thinking and detract from any serious presentation: anything can happen
it is not possible to predict
further developments are to be expected
it is too early to tell
it remains to be seen only
the future will tell
[BBC correspondents please note  - Ed]

Less developed countries (LDCs): Developing countries is preferred. (Do not say "lesser developed countries." (See Third World.)

Pretentious words: Avoid words like apprise, citizenry, contradistinction, effectuate, enunciate, eventuate, evince, and opine and use simpler synonyms.

Regime has a disparaging connotation and should not be used when referring to democratically elected governments or, generally, to governments friendly to the United States.

Torturous, tortuous: Torturous means extremely painful. Tortuous means twisting, devious, or highly complex. Many accidents have occurred on the tortuous mountain road.

Sanguinary, sanguine: Sanguinary means accompanied by carnage or bloodthirsty. Sanguine means ruddy or optimistic and cheerful.

Redundancies are phrases that succumb to repetition. They expose bad habits or, worse, carelessness. The author who writes "It is a true fact that they are offering free gifts" is not watching his words. Below are selected examples observed over the years by the "redundancy police": 

accidentally misfired
adequate enough
old adage
both agree
own personal
build a new house
past career
bureaucratic redtape
past history
chief mainstay
personal charisma
close confidant
personal popularity
combine together
completely surrounded
professional career
consensus of opinion
rally together
current status
exile abroad
final vestiges
foreign imports
free gift
in close proximity
little booklet
live studio audience
long litany
major crisis
major milestone
meet personally
small cottage
small village
sound logic
still continues
still remains
still retains
sum total
temporary respite
thin veneer
trusted confidant
underlying premise
young baby
separate out
share together