Guide 159 / 200 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “criticise”
Five register-aware verbs for pointing to a problem.
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Criticise" is broad. "Critique" is structured and often constructive; "fault" is gentle; "censure" is formal disapproval; "disparage" implies disrespect; "call out" is public and direct.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01Critique formal
structured, often constructive
Critique the proposal section by section.
- 02Fault neutral
gentle fault-finding
Hard to fault the execution here.
- 03Censure formal
formal disapproval
Censure the practice at the next review.
- 04Disparage formal
speak with disrespect
Do not disparage competitors in customer calls.
- 05Call out neutral
public, direct
Call out the missing sign-off in the post-mortem.