Opuscula I know what you Wrote, but what Do you mean?

For several decades I had the pleasure of working in newspapers, first as a hot type printer, then as a reporter-photographer, and finally as an editor.

Depending on the size of the newspaper, I might have been all of the above.

For the most part, the pay was nothing to write home about, but most of the time the work was enjoyable … and educational. I helped create the first edition Gannett’s first TODAY newspaper, in Cocoa Florida, c1966.

Blame it on my time on mostly good newspapers and working with generally superior copy editors, but over the course of the years I became a pedant about the language.

UNFORTUNATELY, the trait remains long after I turned in my pica pole and sleeve garters. Faux pas — a/k/a “fox paws” — still catch my eye and raise my dander.

 

Real printer’s pica pole

 

Following are a few recent examples.

Israeli Blackhawk makes emergency landing with IDF chief for second time

World Israel News 3 NOV 20 https://tinyurl.com/yx9jvwo5

Israeli Blackhawk, with IDF chief, makes second emergency landing.

ACTUALLY, it was the SECOND Blackhawk that made an emergency landing while the IDF chief on board. Two helicopters, two emergency landings, one IDF chief.

Minneapolis to consider bringing in outside police officers amid shortage

Minneapolis MN Star-Tribune 10 NOV 20 https://tinyurl.com/yxaowlzf

If the mayor and City Council approve the plan, officers from the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office and Metro Transit Police would temporarily work with the city, primarily helping to respond to violent 911 calls.

Were the calls really "VIOLENT" or where they ABOUT violent crime?

Trump Reportedly Discussing 2024 Presidential Run

National Review 10 NOV 20 https://tinyurl.com/y55a3cg5

More than 71 million voters cast their ballot for Trump this election cycle, a record number of votes for a sitting president. U.S. presidents are limited to serving two terms, but the terms are not required to be consecutive.

This is correct according to the 22nd Amendment. Pity the writer failed to site the source. The Amendment was ratified on February 27, 1951 after Democrat FDR ignored Washington's precedent. https://tinyurl.com/uyfz8om

Netanyahu calls for Jewish-Arab unity at Knesset meeting on violence in Arab society

JNS 11 NOV 20 https://tinyurl.com/y2qkrs7a

The regional “revolution” in Arab-Jewish relations must extend within Israel’s borders, and “the first component is personal security—defeating crime, defeating the rule of fear,” says the Israeli premier.

Israel has a PRIME MINISTER and a PRESIDENT. It does not have a "PREMIER" (although Netanyahu would be "king for life").

Man injured at South Side rail yard sues Norfolk Southern, claiming it intentionally puts workers at risk

Chicago Tribune 17 NOV 2020 https://tinyurl.com/y68z2c28

“I don’t think anyone is alleging that they wanted to see Ernest get hurt, that they wanted to see any of the Black employees get hurt,” Herbert said. “But the fact remains that they were certainly treated with little disregard because of who they were."

I THINK the workers were DISREGARDED. "treated with little disregard" means "almost no disregard."

IDF hits targets in southern Damascus area, claims Syrian media

JNS 25 NOV 2020 https://tinyurl.com/y5lcdaut

Did the IDF REALLY claim (destroy) the Syrian media OR, is the Syrian media MAKING the claim?

"claim": "To take in a violent manner as if by right: a hurricane that claimed two lives" https://tinyurl.com/y6dkwypn

Second Temple period dice found in Beit El

27 NOV 2020 https://tinyurl.com/y4ayh3mv

An ancient die was discovered at the Khirbet Kfar Mor archaeological site in Beit El.

The headline was wrong; the body correct. "Die" is singular; "dice" is plural. Ask any crap(s) shooter.

Now, the organization’s (Times Up) website says its mission is to pursue “safe, fair and dignified work for women of all kinds."

Daily Wire https://tinyurl.com/y2rxh6jh

"women of all kinds" ?

Who are these "women of all kinds?" Straight, LGBTQ?; blondes, brunettes, red heads; tall ones, short ones, thin ones and fat ones; white, "women of color," U.S. citizens, those who have work visas, illegal immigrants? Pick an attribute.

What I'm (reasonably) sure the writer intended was "safe, fair and dignified work for *all* women." Fewer words, no ambiguity.

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PLAGIARISM is the act of appropriating the literary composition of another, or parts or passages of his writings, or the ideas or language of the same, and passing them off as the product of one’s own mind.

Truth is an absolute defense to defamation. Defamation is a false statement of fact. If the statement was accurate, then by definition it wasn’t defamatory.

Web sites (URLs) beginning https://tinyurl.com/ are generated by the free Tiny URL utility and reduce lengthy URLs to manageable size.

 

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