Monday, November 22, 2004

'Who's on First?' With Orange Vests

Headlines are hard enough to write without the morbidly comical complications of trying to convey the idea of a hunter (allegedly) going on a deadly shooting spree. (The alleged gunman? Well, no, of course he was a gunman. Six killed? Six what? Etc., etc.)

Saturday, November 06, 2004

Tell Me Something I Don't Know

The context is clear, and, for that matter, readers aren't blank slates. Does anybody see the need for "former presidents" once, let alone twice, in this passage?

A president's approval rating is considered a key indicator of re-election chances. Former presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton were re-elected with approval ratings in the mid-50s, and former presidents George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter lost when their ratings fell to 40 percent or below.

Friday, November 05, 2004

Some Things, You Just Have to Memorize

Here's one such pair: Longtime (adj.) is solid, but long-standing (adj.) is hyphenated.