Arguably awesome, or at least viable, tips

Chip Scanlan has some interesting observations about plagiarism in this column about Kaavya Viswanathan's literary theft.

I have written before about cutting down on the use of quotes. Dale Swenson of the McKenzie County Farmer, a reader of Writing Tips, shows how you can do that in this story (it's the second one, "County residents open their hearts ...").

I recently called your attention to Bob Baker's call for a moratorium on uses of the words "passion," "passionate" and "Baby Boomer." Barb Durbin suggests adding "viable" and "arguably." She explains: "As in 'viable option...' If it isn't viable (at least to you), why would you mention it? And if you didn't think you could make a good argument for something you just proposed, why would you propose it?" Another reader (whose e-mail I must have misfiled or deleted inadvertently, so I can't credit you; sorry) suggests a moratorium on "awesome."