These posts are selected quotations from Wikipedia’s Manual of Style/Words to Watch, followed by a few of my own examples of sneaky rhetoric. What makes the rhetoric sneaky is its use of insinuation to instill bias in the mind of the reader (or listener). Insofar as this bias takes hold under the radar of one’s awareness, it interferes with clear-headed examination of the matter at hand. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Words_to_watch (accessed on 8/25/15 at 3:41pm).

Puffery

 “Examples: legendary, great, acclaimed, visionary, outstanding, leading, celebrated, award-winning, landmark, cutting-edge, extraordinary, brilliant, hit, famous, renowned, remarkable, prestigious, world-class, respected, notable, virtuoso, honorable, awesome ...

"Words such as these are often used without attribution to promote the subject of an article, while neither imparting nor plainly summarizing verifiable information. They are known as "peacock terms" by Wikipedia contributors. Instead of making unprovable proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance.”

More examples of puffery: scholar, prominent, pioneering, highly-respected, revolutionary, amazing, leader in his field.

 Unsupported attributions

“Examples: some people say, many scholars state, it is believed/regarded, many are of    the opinion, most feel, experts declare, it is often reported, it is widely thought, research has shown, science says, it is often said ...

" Weasel words are words and phrases aimed at creating an impression that something specific and meaningful has been said, when in fact only a vague or ambiguous claim has been communicated. A common form of weasel wording is through vague attribution, where a statement is dressed with authority, yet has no substantial basis. Phrases such as those above present the appearance of support for statements but can deny the reader the opportunity to assess the source of the viewpoint. They may disguise a biased view. Claims about what people say, think, feel, or believe, and what has been shown, demonstrated, or proved should be clearly attributed.”

More examples of Unsupported Attributions: experts agree, the latest evidence shows, cutting-edge research reveals, it is an established fact that,…