Brainstorming is a form of free association used to generate ideas. When people working alone brainstorm a topic, they write down whatever occurs to them, no matter how strange or irrelevant it might seem. When a group brainstorms, one designated person writes down the words or phrases as the group members suggest them. Brainstorming can stimulate creative thinking about a topic and reveal fresh perspectives and new connections. (See also the introduction, The Composing Process.)
bullets
Bullets are large dots placed at the beginning of items in a displayed list in the text. They are visual aids intended to catch the readers attention. (See also graphics.)
bunch
Bunch as a noun means "things of the same kind" or "considerable amount" (a bunch of tickets). In formal writing, use group rather than bunch in reference to people. (Bunch as a verb means "to group together.")
A bunch (group) of parents organized the exchange student program.
burst / bursted; bust / busted
Of all these verbs, only burst is standard English, appropriate in formal writing. Bursted is nonstandard usage; bust and busted are slang terms.
The bubble floated across the lawn before it burst, [burst as past tense]
When we returned to the gym, all the balloons we had used for decoration had burst, [burst as past participle]
buzzwords
Buzzwords are important-sounding words or phrases that, because of overuse, quickly lose their freshness and precision. They may become popular through their association with science, business, technology, or even sports. We include them in our vocabulary because they seem to give force and vitality to our language; but outside the technical context in which they are appropriate, they mean little and add nothing to a text. They only sound pretentious. Some current examples are interface (as a verb), bottom line, input, mode, variable, state of the art, cutting edge, parameter, communication, and feedback. (See also jargon.)
We need to interface (cooperate) with the Communication Department.
