From the White House to eastern Germany to the British Labour Party, racial matters dominate the news. But the words we use to discuss these topics are often misleading or wrong. For instance, the word "racist" has been blunted by overuse. Much as I hate to sound like a commissar of political correctness (another devalued term, by the way), here's my guide to useless language on racial issues.

A favourite word of certain conservatives, who claim (often sincerely) that they don't see colour and that therefore there's too much talk about racism. Their premise is that people of all colours can get ahead, so nobody should whine about outcomes.