Notes from the newsroom on grammar, usage and style. (Some frequently asked questions are here.)
After I distributed the in-house version of After Deadline to my colleagues last week, word leaked out that I had supposedly “banned” use of the word “tweet” to refer to messages posted on Twitter.
I had suggested that outside of ornithological contexts, “tweet” should still be treated as colloquial rather than as standard English. It can be used for special effect, or in places where a colloquial tone is appropriate, but should not be used routinely in straight news articles. I had made this point before; my memo was simply a reminder.
Reaction outside The Times was swift, widespread and often negative. The scorn we encounter from traditionalists for allowing “data” as either singular or plural — previously my benchmark for an incendiary stylebook issue — pales in comparison.
One interesting note: Of the dozens of blogs and Web sites worldwide that weighed in, exactly two actually contacted me directly to ask about the issue. To them, I pointed out that my note to colleagues did not attempt to “ban” the use of “tweet.” Regular readers of After Deadline know I seldom attempt to ban anything outright — partly to leave room for editorial judgment, and partly to avoid demonstrating how little effect these memos really have.
But except for special effect, we try to avoid colloquialisms, neologisms and jargon. “Tweet” — as a noun or a verb — is all three. Yet it has appeared 18 times in articles in the past month, in a range of sections.
Of course, new technology terms sprout and spread faster than ever. And we don’t want to seem paleolithic. But we favor established usage and ordinary words over the latest jargon or buzzwords.
One test is to ask yourself whether people outside of a target group regularly employ the terms in question. Many people use Twitter, but many don’t; my guess is that few in the latter group routinely refer to “tweets” or “tweeting.” Some day, “tweet” may be as common as “e-mail.” Or another service may elbow Twitter aside next year, and “tweet” may fade into oblivion. (Of course, it doesn’t help that the word itself seems so inherently silly.)
“Tweet” may be acceptable occasionally for special effect. But let’s look for deft, English alternatives: use Twitter, post to or on Twitter, write on Twitter, a Twitter message, a Twitter update. Or, once you’ve established that Twitter is the medium, simply use “say” or “write.”
In a Word
This week’s grab bag of grammar, style and other missteps, compiled with help from colleagues and readers.
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There are American contractors working in Somalia managing logistics for the African Union peacekeepers there. Somali officials have also said that American intelligence agents frequently visit Somalia in an effort to improve the capacity of Somalia’s fledgling security services.
So, which country are we talking about? Too much repetition. Rephrase, or try a pronoun.
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Nicholas Lemann, dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, whose relationship with Mr. Kaus goes back to their Harvard Crimson days, describes the Kaus philosophy thusly: “Mickey sees himself as a liberal whose mission in life is to correct the flaws of liberalism.”
“Thus” is an adverb and says it all; no need for “ly.”
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But how easy can it be portraying a French-speaking, Russian musical genius when you’re a Dane who doesn’t speak French, Russian or play the piano?
The series runs off track; we needed “or” between French and Russian.
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After beating Jankovic in 60 minutes in the semifinals, Stosur’s parents and two brothers flew in from Australia to watch the final in person.
So Stosur’s relatives have all managed to beat Jankovic, too? A dangler.
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Friends of the family describe a traditional household with early American décor and the frequent aroma of Mrs. Paul’s chocolate chip cookies, if not fish sticks.
Touches of humor are always welcome, but playing off someone’s name is seldom the sort of sophisticated touch we strive for.
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Indeed, Ms. Frisch enjoys being around her dog so much that when she was cast in a community production of “The Wizard of Oz” as the Wicked Witch, she arranged for Taffy to play the role of Toto. (She said her father never shared her passion for Taffy, relegating the pooch to the basement.)
Hard to see what we gain from the rather dated slang.
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Mr. Ben-Ami says he represents Jews who support Israel, but not all of its policies. Some of them are raising the issue of Israeli government actions as a strategic liability for the United States, and that question animated a seder held in April by influential officials and advisers in Bethesda, Md.
The Times’s stylebook and our preferred dictionary both prefer “Seder” capitalized.
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[Obit headline] John Finn, Medal of Honor Winner, Dies at 100
Some readers object to references to “winning” the Medal of Honor, as if it were a game or a contest. “Recipient” works; or rephrase to use a word like “awarded.”
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But since March, 24 visual artists and 4 performing groups have been making art in a former munitions storehouse there, rising early to catch one of the first ferries from Manhattan for workers on the island (they start running at 6:45 a.m.) and then rushing at the end of the day to catch the last boat, at 5 p.m. But the bankers’ hours have their compensations.
This somewhat disparaging expression means a short work day; that doesn’t seem to be exactly what we meant here.
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“If you had to pick from a handful of Republicans who you can work with and who will be predisposed to do something together,” Mr. Schumer said. “He is one of them.”
We stumble surprisingly often on punctuating quotations. Here, the quote is all one sentence, so there should be a comma after “said” and no cap for “he.”
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Former Representative Rick A. Lazio emerged as the Republican Party’s preferred candidate for governor at an often raucous convention in Manhattan on Wednesday, leaving the party’s hopes in the hands of a candidate who even its own chairman has not embraced.
Make it “whom.”
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The Italian avant-garde actor and author Dario D’Ambrosi has finally found a home for his 30-year-long passion of working with the mentally ill and producing plays that portray their perspective on life.
The stylebook advises us to avoid the phrase “the disabled” when possible, and a similar argument applies to “the mentally ill.” Some readers find it insensitive; try “mentally ill people,” “people with mental illnesses” or other phrases if feasible.
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Latinos comprise 75 percent of his Chicago district.
One of the most frequently misused words. Remember, the whole “comprises” the parts, not the other way around. In this case, “make up” or “account for” would serve.
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“His [a Qaeda leader’s] death will only be a severe curse by his life upon the infidels,” Al Qaeda said in a statement issued to jihadist Web sites and translated by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors statements by jihadists.
A United States official said American intelligence analysts believed the statement from Al Qaeda was accurate.
Presumably we meant the part about the killing, not the curse.
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He asked if I were seeing anyone, if I were in love, and I told him that I have bad luck with men.
Make it “was” in both cases, not “were.” There’s no need for the subjunctive; sequence-of-tense rules simply require the past tense here.
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After Deadline examines questions of grammar, usage and style encountered by writers and editors of The Times. It is adapted from a weekly newsroom critique overseen by Philip B. Corbett, the associate managing editor for standards, who is also in charge of The Times’s style manual.