Guide 57 / 200 6 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “bad thing”
Five nouns that replace "bad thing" with specificity.
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
A "bad thing" could be an error, a risk, a problem, a concern, a setback. Each asks for a different response. Naming it is half the fix.
ii · The swaps6 ways
- 01Issue neutral
general problem term
Two issues were flagged in the audit.
- 02Concern neutral
worry worth raising
Pricing remains our main concern.
- 03Risk formal
potential future harm
A clear compliance risk in the current flow.
- 04Setback neutral
temporary reversal
A setback, but not a blocker.
- 05Drawback neutral
known downside of a choice
The obvious drawback is maintenance cost.
- 06Shortcoming formal
a specific deficiency
A shortcoming in our test coverage.