The Power of Precision: How Misused Words Cloud Clear Writing

On November 2, 2024, BloodHorse reported that Jayarebe, a participant in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, “suffered an apparent heart attack and died after finishing seventh in the 1 1/2-mile race at Del Mar.”

The report stated that Jayarebe “suffered an apparent heart attack.” At first glance, this wording might seem harmless. However, a closer look reveals how the misuse of “apparent” blurs the clarity of the statement, introducing an unnecessary ambiguity.

When journalists use “apparent” in this way, it’s easy to imagine what they mean — that Jayarebe likely died from a heart attack. Yet, the phrase “apparent heart attack” suggests that the heart attack was only a possibility, not a confirmed cause of death. In reality, Jayarebe didn’t suffer from an “apparent” heart attack; the horse either died from a heart attack, or the actual cause was unknown. It’s a subtle but important difference, especially when precise language matters.

In her book Write and Wrong, Martha Johnson explains the common misuse of “apparent” and “evidently” with examples. She writes, “Apparent is a sad case. Journalists and other writers regularly do violence to it.” Johnson’s examples highlight how words like “apparent” and “evidently” often turn up where they don’t belong, muddying what could be a clear statement.