CONTENTS FEATURE: Hastily chosen 'buzzwords' may not be accurate GRAMMAR COACH: Fielding your questions NET NOTES: Captivating web sites FINDER'S FEE: Recommend a friend—and earn up to $500 FEATURE: Hastily chosen 'buzzwords' may not accurately portray meaning      Because we're living in the so-called "information" age—or perhaps in spite of it—the immediacy and widespread availability of news reports has tended to create a "parroting" effect in which certain words become magnetically attached to certain functions or news events, or to certain other words.      Newscasters habitually report that buildings are "engulfed" in flames, an odd choice of words considering that it equates to inundation—overflowing or flooding by water. Burning buildings could be reported as ablaze, or in flames or consumed in flames, but count on hearing that they're "totally engulfed in flames"—a redundant reference at that because "engulfed" means "completely enclosed."      Similarly, although equipment failures in broadcast transmissions could properly be called malfunctions, they are invariably reported as "technical difficulties." Aging trees are not simply old; they're "old-growth" trees. People no longer simply have skills; they have "skill sets." Unreasonable fears are rarely called unwarranted, unjustifiable or without grounds; such fears are "unfounded." Employees who are implicated in wrongdoing are rarely suspended from work; they're "placed on administrative leave." Police officers are rarely injured while on duty; they may, however, be injured "in the line of duty."      In recent years, the list of addictive entries—colloquially known as "buzzwords"—includes "heavy lifting," "traffic calming," "24/7," "9/11," "deliverables," "intellectual capital," "human capital," "outside the box," "traction," "value-added," "embedded journalists" and other terms that quickly became monotonous.      Add to that list of tedious terms a new contribution: forms of the verb "humiliate." That term took hold in connection with news reports that emerged in late April describing treatment of Iraqi prisoners of war. That revelation drew widespread condemnation—including that by President George W. Bush, who denounced what he called "disgraceful conduct by a few American troops who dishonored our country and disregarded our values."      Within two weeks of the initial reports, news reporters and politicians had usurped the term "humiliation" to the extent that it has become synonymous with now-iconic photos of naked prisoners. A search on the Internet in late May yielded 160,000 references to "humiliation" in connection with the Iraqi prisoners scandal. Unfortunately, "humiliate" is not strictly the most appropriate word to convey the intended meaning.      The verb "humiliate," which has the same Latin origin as the adjective "humble," is a rather mild condemnation. Someone who is described as "humble" is meek or modest, or shows deferential respect. Humility is the absence of arrogance, haughtiness or pretentiousness. "Humiliate," which is analogous to the verb "embarrass," literally means "to reduce pride, dignity or self-respect"—in other words, "to humble." While the verb form of "humble" can mean either "to make humble in spirit or manner" or "to destroy power, independence or prestige" of someone, it does not pack the force of some other more potent verbs. Here are two dozen other largely overlooked possibilities. abase: to reduce in rank, prestige or esteem. abuse: to hurt or injure by maltreatment; to revile; or to otherwise treat a person wrongfully, unreasonably or harmfully. besmirch: to soil or sully. brutalize: to treat brutally, harshly or with unfeeling cruelty. debase: to degrade or to lower in character or value. debauch (pronounced dee-botch): to corrupt morally. defile: to corrupt, pollute or desecrate; to violate chastity. degrade: to reduce in grade, rank, or status; to diminish dignity; or to expose to contempt, dishonor or disgrace. It implies reduction to a state of shame. More insight is offered by the geological definition of degrade: "to reduce or wear by erosion." demoralize: to debase the morals of; to corrupt. disgrace: to bring shame or dishonor upon. dehumanize: to deprive of human values or attributes. denigrate: to defame or belittle. demean: a synonym of "debase," indicating a reduction in social position or dignity. deprecate: to belittle. depreciate: to disparage; to make or seem less valuable or important. deprave: to debase morally; to corrupt. maltreat: to treat cruelly or handle roughly. mistreat: to inflict harm, either deliberately or as a result of inexperience. mortify: to cause someone to experience extreme shame, humiliation, chagrin or embarrassment. pervert: to bring to a worse condition; to debase; to vitiate. profane: to put to an improper, unworthy or degrading use; to abuse. reproach: to disgrace or bring shame upon. sully: to defile, taint or soil. vitiate (pronounced VISH-ee-ate): to corrupt morally; to debase.      The verb "humiliate" can connote subjecting a person to shame, usually in public. That interpretation suggests that humiliation of the Iraqi prisoners resulted not strictly from mistreatment within the prison walls, but rather was ironically exacerbated by the release and publication of the infamous photographs. Yes! EditPros can help you choose appropriate terminology for your newsletters, brochures, reports and Web site content. GRAMMAR COACH: Fielding your questions Which is correct: 'staff is' or 'staff are'? Sherri McFall submitted this month's question:      "Which is correct: 'staff has access,' or 'staff have access'? 'Staff is credentialed,' or 'staff are credentialed'?" The grammar coach replies to Sherri:      The choice should be influenced by the way "staff" is being used. When referring to an entire group, statements that "the staff has access" and "the staff is credentialed" are acceptable. However, we recommend a different form when referring to individuals: "staff members have access" and "staff members are credentialed."      Here's why: In reference to a group of employees or assistants within an organization who are assigned to perform a function, "staff" is a collective noun—one that names a group of people, animals or objects. Collective nouns include "crew," "jury," "family," "administration," "class," "team," "orchestra," "committee" and "audience."      Even though "staff" is a collective noun that refers to a group, its use to refer to the individual members of a staff is considered proper (as in "staff are invited to attend"). However, such use is inconsistent with the way most other collective nouns are used. An individual football player is not called a "team," but rather is described as a member of a team. Neither is a single juror called a "jury." A student is not called a "class." Emily is not a "family"; she is a member of a family. A musician is not an "orchestra," but rather is an orchestra member. Likewise, referring to one or more individuals as "staff" (as in "four staff attended the meeting" or "four staff are credentialed") sounds stilted—and peculiar. We recommend reference to individuals as staff members.      For agreement with verbs and pronouns, collective nouns are treated as singular nouns—for example: "The team is on its way to Oklahoma City." "The high school orchestra is in rehearsal." "The sales staff is exceeding expectations." But: "The counseling staff members are credentialed."      Thanks for submitting your question, Sherri!      Are you perplexed by some aspect of grammar or word usage? Don't be shy! Ask the "grammar coach" at EditPros and we'll try to help—at no charge, just for the sport of it. NET NOTES: Captivating Internet resources BigCharts Historical Quotes      The historical quotes on this site are not from orators, politicians or authors of the past. This site offers stock quotes—but not just any stock quotes. Numerous other sources are available to display current stock quotations. But this site's "Historical Quotes" tool allows you to look up a security's exact closing price on any date in the past—a function that could be helpful for tax purposes. Simply type in the symbol and a date to view a quote and brief chart for that security. BigCharts is a comprehensive investment research Web site operated by MarketWatch.com Inc. of Minneapolis. Wordcounter      Do you have an unconscious tendency to use the same words repeatedly in your writing? Or do you want to check a document to see if it might contain potentially irritating recurrences of words? Wordcounter ranks the most frequently used words in a passage of text that you enter. The site promises to add capability to analyze repetition in Web sites and in uploaded documents. Facts for Features      If you write for your company's or organization's newsletter and you've been assigned to prepare an article about an upcoming commemorative holiday or event—for example, Father's Day, the Fourth of July or Labor Day—this site can help you locate relevant background information. The "Facts for Features and Special Editions" resource consists of collections of statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau's demographic and economic subject areas. That material can be used to enliven or authenticate a story or serve as background information for topics in the news. FINDER'S FEE: Recommend a friend—and earn a finder's fee of up to $500      Do you know of a friend or colleague whose office can benefit from EditPros services? If you do, EditPros may reward you with a "finder's fee" of up to $500.      EditPros performs writing, editing and publication management services for newsletters, sales literature, brochures, Web sites and other informational and marketing materials.      If you recommend our services to a friend or business colleague, and that introduction leads to an assignment for EditPros, we will award you a "finder's fee" equaling 10 percent of the amount we earn on the first assignment for the new client, up to a maximum finder's fee of $500. Naturally, the finder's fee is applicable only to clients for which we have not worked previously.      This offer will remain in effect until further notice. YOUR TURN: Ask the "grammar coach" or subscribe      We invite you to submit your questions to the "grammar coach," and we welcome you to subscribe to this monthly newsletter—which we'll send to your e-mail address at no charge. We respond to all "grammar coach" questions personally, but delays may occur because we must place top priority on assignments from our clients. We appreciate your patience and your interest.      You also can change your e-mail subscription address. For an address change, please indicate your existing AND your new e-mail address. Thank you. OUR PRIVACY POLICY for e-mail newsletter subscribers:      We do not use any commercial e-mail lists or automated mass-mailing programs, and we do not allow access to the list by anyone else for any reason. Our subscriber list is maintained by hand, and it is not for sale. We are protective of confidentiality because many of our readers are also clients of ours. Any accompanying advertising is placed by Yahoo.com in exchange for our use of the e-mail server to distribute this newsletter.