That leads to the second reason the word is counter-productive: it makes it more difficult to look fairly at who might actually be causing the run-up in prices.

FORBES: A Challenge: Stop Saying 'Speculators'

The book and subsequent film are arguably most memorable for their unique depiction of elderly forest-dwelling intellectuals who counter the ban on the printed word by memorizing whole works of literature.

FORBES: Ray Bradbury, 'Fahrenheit 451' And The E-book Era

The states will also work with the IRS on what it calls "counter marketing"--attempting to get the word out, through the media and tax professionals, that certain tax avoidance schemes don't work.

FORBES: Where's Nevada?