"Pencil Whip" – to complete a form, record, or document without having performed the implied work or without supporting data or evidence. Source: Wiktionary

Wiktionary states that this new term, "pencil whip," is popular among military personnel and auditors. It is a metaphor for checking off forms with made-­up data so fast that the end of the pencil is whipping in the air.

The article "The Anatomy of Pencil Whipping" by Dr. Timothy Ludwig in the February 2014 issue of Professional Safety describes how this behavior is compromising the quality of safety data in the construction industry. But pencil whipping is a behavior that crosses industry boundaries.

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