In our continuing series on annoying journalism word blunders, we come to one of my favourites ... or should that be most despised. This is a primary school error that I still read or hear from written and broadcast journalists on a regular basis. Even experienced writers continue to perpetuate this irritating piece of tautology.
I'm talking about the phrase "general consensus". Amateur writers or rookie journalists can, if they ask nicely, be forgiven. However, there should be no excuse for seasoned journalists who insist on using phrase in sentences such as "the general consensus is that there will be elections next month". Grrrrr!
Stop! This is a numbing piece of redundancy because we all know that the word "consensus" itself implies that it is general. You do not need to put "general" in front of it.
I am sure that the same people who pepper us with general consensus are also responsible for the equally reprehensible "general public". As opposed to what other public?
Anyway, now you know. Let us draw a line under our past follies involving general consensus and general public and, from now on, writers and journalists all over the English-speaking world will restrict their use of the word "general" to military issues or other general matters.
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