| William D. Lutz | |
| Birth Date: | 12 December 1940 |
| Birth Place: | Racine, Wisconsin |
| Fields: | Linguistics |
| Workplaces: | Rutgers University-Camden |
| Alma Mater: | Dominican College of Racine, Marquette University, University of Nevada, Reno |
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William D. Lutz (; born December 12, 1940) is an American linguist who specializes in the use of plain language and the avoidance of doublespeak (deceptive language). He wrote a famous essay The World of Doublespeak on this subject as well as the book Doublespeak[1] His original essay and the book described the four different types of doublespeak (euphemism, jargon, gobbledygook, and inflated language) and the social dangers of doublespeak.
In 1962, Lutz received his bachelor's degree from the Dominican College of Racine (which closed its doors in 1974). He received his master's degree in English from Marquette University in 1963 and his doctorate in 1971 from the University of Nevada, Reno. Lutz began teaching English at Rutgers University-Camden in 1971, and was made a full professor in 1991. He retired from teaching in 2006.[2]
From 1980 to 1994, Lutz edited the now defunct Quarterly Review of Doublespeak.[3] [4] He worked as a consultant with a number of corporations and the United States government to promote the use of 'plain language'. For example, he was a significant contributor to the SEC's Plain English Handbook.[5]