First let me acknowledge that journalism is a tough profession. Readers scrutinize every word, which the journalist had maybe two minutes to write, looking for a “gotcha” moment. For this reason, I focus most of my snark on signs, which generally aren’t written on deadline. But sometimes I can’t resist. Take a look at this headline:
I cropped the photo, but I assure you all the words are there. All the words that appeared on the screen, that is. I don’t know what left him on read means, but then again I never did understand politicians.
A student alerted me to this gem:
Babies have greeted the world in lots of surprising places: subway platforms, hotel lobbies, the back seat of taxis . . . but Princess Eugenie appears to have done something unique by giving birth on the red carpet. Oops. On rereading, I see that Eugenie is not unique at all. Sister Princess Beatrice was giving birth there also. That red carpet must have been a bit crowded.
A friend sent me this one a while ago. It continues to puzzle me:
In case you’re wondering, JWST is the “James Webb Space Telescope.” I’m wondering whether there are galaxies of any age that aren’t in the universe. If so, where are they? I invite astrophysicists to comment. Actually, I invite everyone to comment on any of these headlines. And if you create or appear in a headline someday, I wish you clarity and charity.
OMG, these headlines just *invite* snark, don’t they?! I just have one comment regarding the contemporaneous births (by the princess sisters). Maybe this crossed your mind also, but you were too proper to mention it. So I will, as I am not proper: “Good thing the carpet was red. Stains wouldn’t show as easily.” I know, EWW! 😬😜
EWW, but totally true!
For pedagogical purposes, the Princess Eugenie headline shows the potential problem of stringing together several prepositional phrases, and the JWST headline shows when a prepositional phrase is even unnecessary. But I can’t teach much from the Romney revelation, other than suggest reading the book.
Good observations, Bill. Nor can I imagine what the Romney headline was getting at. Not a simple typo. Maybe an autocorrect fail?
As per the NY Times., Sept. 14:
Mr. Romney warned Mr. McConnell that their lives were in danger on Jan. 6.
In the days leading up to the riot, Mr. Romney received a warning about potential violence at the Capitol. He was concerned enough to text Mr. McConnell and share his fears.
“In case you have not heard this, I just got a call from Angus King, who said that he had spoken with a senior official at the Pentagon who reports that they are seeing very disturbing social media traffic regarding the protests planned on the 6th,” Mr. Romney wrote. “There are calls to burn down your home, Mitch; to smuggle guns into DC, and to storm the Capitol. I hope that sufficient security plans are in place, but I am concerned that the instigator — the President — is the one who commands the reinforcements the DC and Capitol police might require.”
Mr. McConnell never responded to the text.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/14/us/politics/mitt-romney-mckay-coppins-takeaways.html?smid=url-share
Thanks for this link, Bill.