tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post115922430226747569..comments2023-11-10T16:19:46.880-05:00Comments on Blogslot: Depends on How Important 'Is' IsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post-1160802881493279012006-10-14T01:14:00.000-04:002006-10-14T01:14:00.000-04:00The problem the stylebook is trying to fix, of cou...The problem the stylebook is trying to fix, of course, is the case where the verb can be interpreted either as simple past or as past participle. If you write Police Say 2 Died at Football Game, the meaning is perfectly clear because die is an intransitive verb without any helper needed.<BR/><BR/>As for requiring the helper with the progressive tense in all caes, sorry, but the WaPo stylebook is being a little anal there. I think Congaree River Rising is easily distinguishable from Congaree River Rises, the former meaning the rise continues and the latter, using the "historic present," meaning the recent rise is now over.<BR/><BR/>But maybe we've been addled by too much mixing of tenses and uses in broadcast, etc. to the point where people cannot distinguish. I say not -- at least not yet -- but feel free to disagree.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16156896794811327893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post-1160802639295281862006-10-14T01:10:00.000-04:002006-10-14T01:10:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Doughttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16156896794811327893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post-1159885958869985332006-10-03T10:32:00.000-04:002006-10-03T10:32:00.000-04:00On a related note, my all-time (least) favorite ha...On a related note, my all-time (least) favorite hard-to-parse headline was this one from about a year ago (presented in all-caps as it originally was):<BR/><BR/>QUAKE'S RUINS YIELD LIVES<BR/><BR/>At first glance, I thought it had something to do with the earthquake ruining lives. Then I thought it was about something living. After 3 or 4 more careful reads I finally got it. <BR/><BR/>Problems:<BR/>- Everyone knows all-caps are harder to read. In this case it also hid the apostrophe. If I would have seen it the first time through I don't think I would have had a problem.<BR/>- Each of the words could be nouns or verbs. I think that's a pretty rare event. Just one totally unambiguous word would have been a big help.Brian Ashehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04003475860508943396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post-1159495715300369052006-09-28T22:08:00.000-04:002006-09-28T22:08:00.000-04:00Thanks, Lillie. You put that in a nice, simple way...Thanks, Lillie. You put that in a nice, simple way that I'm not sure I ever did. And yes, "Call(s)" is invaluable.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512881095588291721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post-1159490767662341262006-09-28T20:46:00.000-04:002006-09-28T20:46:00.000-04:00I correct or, if it is too late, cringe at headlin...I correct or, if it is too late, cringe at headlines that have the very features you are describing. I was pleased a while back when you articulated why "says" requires "to be" later in the headline, as in your example "Police Say 2 Killed at Football Game." In many cases (not this one), "call" is an easy remedy that doesn't require any more space. ("Scientists Say Study Flawed" --> "Scientists Call Study Flawed.")<BR/>So, yes: "To be" is needed more often than many think. It's not arcane.Lilliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15401117197930776010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post-1159401830663409892006-09-27T20:03:00.000-04:002006-09-27T20:03:00.000-04:00No -- definitely a nicety in this case. But it wou...No -- definitely a nicety in this case. But it would have been very easy to fix. An "Is" would have fit, or it could have been "Hurts," or the attribution could have come at the end.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512881095588291721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post-1159401585012978072006-09-27T19:59:00.000-04:002006-09-27T19:59:00.000-04:00So, the Post headline is flawed from a technical s...So, the Post headline is flawed from a technical standpoint -- but I don't find it unclear or open to interpretation. Do you?Girl with the Interesting Hairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14946746656096278479noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post-1159298229882851822006-09-26T15:17:00.000-04:002006-09-26T15:17:00.000-04:00Definition of "Progressive"<A HREF="http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/tenses.html#progressive" REL="nofollow">Definition of "Progressive"</A>Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512881095588291721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post-1159298125809525222006-09-26T15:15:00.000-04:002006-09-26T15:15:00.000-04:00You're asking me, Mr. Proudly Ignorant of Grammati...You're asking me, Mr. Proudly Ignorant of Grammatical Terms? I found this nice definition:<BR/>http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/grammar/tenses.html#progressive<BR/><BR/>(It's why the recent Post front-page headline "Spy Agencies Say Iraq War Hurting U.S. Terror Fight" was flawed.)Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512881095588291721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7122549.post-1159297839497669392006-09-26T15:10:00.000-04:002006-09-26T15:10:00.000-04:00This is just the sort of arcana I love to dissect....This is just the sort of arcana I love to dissect. Question -- in the Post's rule about using the helping verb, what does "the progressive" mean?Girl with the Interesting Hairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14946746656096278479noreply@blogger.com