Debaters have several poor word-choice and word-formation habits that detract from their ethos as advocates as well as from the clarity of their arguments. In many instances, debaters, to their competitive and educational detriment, employ habitual phrases, questionable redefinitions, and poorly coined new words. Many currently popular debate phrases, terms, and usages derive from the hardware of debate: the flowsheet, and the evidence card. A second important etymological source of "debatespeak," and the hardest to uproot, is precedent. There are methods, however, that coaches and teachers can use to improve debaters' lexical habits. Good speaking habits can be developed through practice rounds and drills. Coaches should avoid using debate jargon or theoretical terms, and should critique debaters' written arguments. The close relationship between thinking and good language use is a knowledge that is critical to any effective speaking or writing, in or out of debate. (SG)