Vogue word: robust. Today, while sitting through a paper presentation, complete with comments from the audience, I noticed how often lawprofs use the word "robust." We're always looking for a "robust" version of rights and speculating about what the "robust" enforcement of some notion would be like or what a court would do if it genuinely wanted the "robust" protection of something. Where did that come from?

If you look at law journals, from the entire year of 1983, you'll find only 74 articles using that word (typical usage: "robust debate" as a First Amendment value). Ten years later, for 1993, it's up to 277 ("robust debate" is joined by "robust markets" and assorted other uses). Last year, it was 1241 (now we see "robust judicial federalism," "robust democracy," "robust conclusions"). I wonder what caused "robust" to take hold. I'm thinking the term migrated from the computer world, where there is talk of "robust software."

Ordinary words that could be used to avoid the overusing this vogue word are: strong, sound, healthy, vigorous, sturdy. Another alternative might be to become more aware of the impulse to lard your speech and writing with adjectives. Look inside yourself: what is this inner need that is making you want to tuck assertions about strength and vigor into your every statement?