Where do Journalists learn their English

Hurricane

Hurricane

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SWMBO and I have just got back from some winter sun so I've read the latest MBY from cover to cover.

It really narks me that more and more articles these days are written the the present tense. For example, the ongoing report of Azimut Zaffina trip through the Med. Dont get me wrong, I'm enjoying reading about their progress but why cant they write it in the past tense - thats what it is. Some of the excellent report on the Thunderbird was written this way as well to slightly better effect.

IMHO, this type of writing spoils a good read - its trying to be too clever.
 
I don't think they bother any more.

Then they like to misuse trendy new words and phrases. For example,

on the ground (= here)
going forward (= in future)
embedded with (= working for)

hence the statement,

Embedded on the ground going forward.

Makes perfect sense, apparently. Or am I talking about a CQR dragging?
 
There's an increasing trend to write and talk about past events in the present tense, which irritates me intensely. It began with historians but journalists are now doing it. It's almost as annoying as listening to scientists who begin every sentence with "so".
 
I thought

elton said:
There's an increasing trend to write and talk about past events in the present tense, which irritates me intensely. It began with historians but journalists are now doing it. It's almost as annoying as listening to scientists who begin every sentence with "so".
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It was the Dutch that start every sentence with "so"....
 
Are you surprised with the way kids are taught at school today? My son is one of the top pupils at his school both in English Language and English Literature and may go on to study English at university, who knows, maybe even at Oxbridge but his essays are riddled with grammatical and spelling errors. I regularly have arguments with him over this issue and he says that it doesn't matter because he won't get marked down by his teachers for these errors. I hate to say 'in my day' but in my day, teachers would have clouted me round the earhole for some of the errors my son makes. If that attitude pervades the whole teaching system, then it's no wonder that we cannot produce young journalists who can string a few sentences together
 
Thing

mjf said:
Completely agree - must be an age thing.

Current pet hates are Invite iso Invitation

and....... For Free what's wrong with Free of Charge?
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Is thought like its just like the way like kids talk they cant help like to put the word like in.

I quite often correct young kids on the train, one day its going to end in tears, probably mine...
 
Deleted User said:
Are you surprised with the way kids are taught at school today? My son is one of the top pupils at his school both in English Language and English Literature and may go on to study English at university, who knows, maybe even at Oxbridge but his essays are riddled with grammatical and spelling errors. I regularly have arguments with him over this issue and he says that it doesn't matter because he won't get marked down by his teachers for these errors. I hate to say 'in my day' but in my day, teachers would have clouted me round the earhole for some of the errors my son makes. If that attitude pervades the whole teaching system, then it's no wonder that we cannot produce young journalists who can string a few sentences together
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St Cakes ? ;)
Yep, long gone are my days when 7 years of Latin was pre-requisite for decent spelling !
 
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Hmmm...a little harsh, methinks. I went through journalism college in the late 1970s (100 words per minute shorthand, 40wpm typing, typewriters, carbon paper, Tippex, cigarettes, beer, compositors, down-table subs, hot metal, etc) and we were taught that it's acceptable to write in the present tense if the occasion demands it — dramatic first-person accounts being a prime example.

Graham Snook's account of being hit on the head with a Monte Carlo 42 could be more powerful, and more involving for the reader, if written in the present tense. But then Gerard Hoffnung's bricklayer's lament works pretty well in the past tense. I think sparing use of present tense narrative is preferable. But then I start sentences with "And" and "But" and "So", so what do I know? And my kids frequently tell me off for it, so not all kids are getting a rubbish education.
 
frankthompson said:
I keep seeing more and more references to 'sailboats' ... as in 'airplane' .... and a whole load of other ghastly Americanisms .... like awesome ... I'm like Omigod !
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I'm always intrigued that those who make criticisisms of English usage generally live in glass houses of one sort or another. For you, it's not ok to say "sailboat" yet it's ok to put 4 dots in an elipsis. If your ok/not ok threshold is so capricious I doubt other writers will ever be able to make you happy :)
 
jfm said:
It's "prerequisite" not "pre-requisite". Maybe you should have done eight years. :)
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Yea, didnt learn much ! Took me 6 years to pay attention!!
Re langauge in MBY, I m rather concerned about the review of the Masterflush toilet,designed to deal with paper and waist.
Best stand up,chaps, or you might get pulled in.
 
My personal pet hates are the malapropisms;

The one that is used a lot is reigns instead of reins - eg "He was given free reign" (sic).

Similarly, accept and except. Effect and affect. I could go on all day.

I suppose that its because many of them are not trained journalists, but have come into writing for boating mags from other boat-related disciplines.
 
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