Comments on: 20 Criminal Terms You Should Know

By: Stephen Thorn

Stephen Thorn — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:59:58 +0000

Two terms that confuse me are BLACKMAIL and EXTORTION. Perhaps they’re interchangeable. Are there any significant differences between the two terms?

By: Stephen Thorn

Stephen Thorn — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:58:38 +0000

Cat, a simple explanation of the difference between “assault” and “battery” is that if I take a punch at your chin and MISS, it’s “assault;’ but if that punch CONNECTS then it’s “battery.” Then you have AGGREVATED battery, which is battery of an especially violent or eggregious sort (as in being pummeled with a pipe or wrench), “assault and battery” which is not commonly used anymore because the terms have diverged legally into two different crimes. There’s also “indecent assault” which is a physical assault of a sexually-based nature (like if I grabbed your crotch in a crowd), but this can also relate to sex crimes that fall just short of the legal definition of rape. It’s one of those terms that change depending on the laws in a particular jurisdiction.

By: Naomi Hamm

Naomi Hamm — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 22:41:55 +0000

Yes, I really do agree that on writing crime dramas and mysteries you do so need the right words and phrases, to stand out in the world of writers. Otherwise you’ll look like a fool and fall flat on your nose.

Whereas other kinds of writing you could slide a bit, although that is not adviced or recommended.

Show your credinetials as a writer by being the true pro that you know you are.

All those other elements will just fall into place.

By: Cat

Cat — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:04:12 +0000

Would you also address assault and battery? I live in a state that has statutes that define assault, but not battery. Yet people talk about them together.

Thanks!

By: Alastair Macdonald

Alastair Macdonald — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 20:14:58 +0000

Two other terms that I have always struggled with are slander and defamation, what is the essential difference between these two terms?