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Words and Their StoriesLearning Expressions with VOA
Processed with VS1Learn document and information-literacy terms from a 2019 VOA report, not current news.
VOA source audio
Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcriptThis April 2019 episode examines “redact” and related words through the public release of the Mueller report. To redact is to remove or obscure selected information before sharing a document; “redaction” names that editing, and “unredacted” describes a version without those removals. The story also uses terms for classified material, disclosure, and a fraction of a larger whole.
Cultural note: This is vocabulary from a dated U.S. political news story, not an update about present-day investigations. Redactions may protect legitimate privacy or security interests, but the word itself does not show whether withholding information is justified; that depends on the evidence and context.
Keep exploringA black bar on a page can hide sensitive details—or draw attention to what readers cannot see. The vocabulary helps describe the edit without deciding whether it was right.
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Describe information removed before a document is released.
Meaning
Remove or obscure information in a document before it is shared or published.
Tone & use
Common in legal, government, and records contexts. It does not by itself explain why information was removed.
Example
“The clinic redacted patient names before sharing the training report.”
Meaning
The act of removing selected material from a document, or the removed material itself.
Tone & use
Often used for plural edits as “redactions.” Say what was removed when that detail is known and appropriate to share.
Example
“The editor explained that each redaction protected a source who had not agreed to be identified.”
Meaning
Not edited to hide selected information; shown in its original or complete form.
Tone & use
The word describes a document’s state, not whether it should be made public.
Example
“Only authorized staff could review the unredacted incident report.”
Distinguish public release from information kept confidential.
Meaning
Make information known, especially information that was private or not previously shared.
Tone & use
Formal and neutral; it may describe an authorized release or an improper reveal, depending on context.
Example
“The company disclosed the data breach after confirming which customer records were affected.”
Use a word for one part of a larger amount.
Meaning
A small part of a larger amount or whole.
Tone & use
Often used with “of” plus a noun; it can be literal or approximate.
Example
“The public summary included only a fraction of the material reviewed by the committee.”
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