This Editorial has come about because of recent restructuring of support and funding for science in the USA. Reference Johnson, Dance and Achenbach1 Amongst the many changes afoot, some words and phrases are no longer considered to be acceptable by the US Federal Government. Reference Yourish, Daniel, Datar, White and Gamio2 Reorganising research and academic publishing, based on unscientific parameters, threatens the integrity of these important endeavours worldwide.