I’ve previously ranted here about how I hate it when writers say “individuals” instead of “people.”
Now I have another pet peeve: “lived experience.”
I get the idea of the phrase: to emphasize that people who have a medical condition (or whatever we’re talking about) have a type of expertise that is often dismissed. Advocates and others use “lived experience” to give credit to their specific expertise in something often marginalized: substance use disorder, mental illness, not having a home.
But what a, well, lifeless phrase.
Ultimately, “lived experience” is passive: the experience that has been lived.
The way it’s often used tends to make it even worse, referring to “Lisa’s lived experience with addiction.” Why not just tell us briefly what Lisa has experienced? Or how Lisa has lived? By boiling that experience down to two yawn-inducing words, the phrase flattens what should be dynamic.
Verdict: banned!
Recommendation of the week: A feature in The Cut asks and answers a fascinating question: “When did people become so afraid of mold?”
P.S. STAT is 10! We're celebrating by offering STAT+ subscriptions for $10 per month for 10 months. Come on, treat yourself to great reporting.
