A collection of journalists' bad habits is being compiled by a north-east newspaper blogger.

But rather than the usual culprits like drinking at lunchtime and swearing too much, it's journalists' unique literary behaviour that interests Graeme Whitfield.

The assistant news editor of Newcastle's morning paper, The Journal, is using his blog to help create the definitive dictionary of a lingo he calls 'English-journalese'.

It centres on hacks' rather unique ability to use words in their own special context – indifferent to their everyday usage.

The first two words in Graeme's firing line are 'slam', meaning criticise, and 'tot' for pre-school child.

He said: "We were talking about it in the office and these were the two words that sprung to mind.

"Slam is a great individual word but you actually think, in real life, it's one of those words that never gets used outside the newsroom.

"Who ever uses the word 'slam', to mean criticism, except for journalists?

"Tot is one I see in the tabloids all the time – hopefully we don't use it too much at The Journal.

"I will probably have to sit and think, but lots more will come up.

"These words are used in headlines because they are nice and small.

"I am hoping to get e-mails over the year from journalists around the country who have used them but anybody can contribute.

"A definitive English-journalese dictionary would be very nice."

Readers can follow Graeme's progress and send in their own experiences of 'journalese' via Graeme's blog.