Economist Style Guide - Redress Information & Analysis

real Is it really necessary? When used to mean after taking infl ation
into account, it is legitimate. In other contexts (Investors are showing
real interest in the country, but Bolivians wonder if real prosperity will
ever arrive) it is often better left out.
rebut, refute Rebut means repel or meet in argument. Refute, which is
stronger, means disprove. Neither should be used as a synonym
for deny. “Shakespeare never has six lines together without a fault.
Perhaps you may fi nd seven: but this does not refute my general
assertion.” (Samuel Johnson)
red and blue In Britain, colours that are associated with socialism and
conservatism respectively; in the United States, colours that are
associated with Republicans and Democrats respectively.
references see footnotes, sources, references in Part 3.
regrettably means to be regretted. Do not confuse with regretfully, used
of someone showing regret.
relationship is a long word often better replaced by relations. The
two countries hope for a better relationship means The two countries
hope for better relations. But relationship is an appropriate word
nowadays for two people in a close friendship.
report on not into.
reshuffl e, resupply Shuffl e and supply will do, except for British
Cabinets, which are reshuffl ed from time to time.
resources, resourceful Resourceful is a useful word; the term natural
resources, less satisfactory, also has its merits. Most other uses
of resource tend to be vile. The word is entirely at home in the
following sentence, taken from an advertisement placed by Skill
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