Just Use Normal Words
Submitted by jbdrydenco on Fri, 02/01/2008 - 10:40
I live in Wisconsin, and it snows sometimes, and it gets cold. It's something we live with here in in the Near Arctic (not really, but we complain enough like it it). Over the past few weeks since Christmas we've had a fair amount of snow and a few days of extreme cold. The local news has seen it fit to describe it in other words, though, and it begins to rub a very small hole into the base of my skull that gives me a headache.
We've been plunged into the deep freeze, dumped on, sent into the double-digits below zero, and forced to brave a harsh winter. Why not just say "it's cold; keep your extremities covered"?
John McIntyre is a master of pointing out terribly-used cliche, and I believe he would cringe at some of the usages in our local media coverage (especially on the radio).
I just wanted to post a quick rant. Sometimes it gets to me too much to deal with.
Comments
Well, it's marketing! It's hype!
You won't tune in for "It's cold out" but you might for "Coldest temperatures on record plunge Wisconsin into a deep freeze comparable to that which caused the Ice Age!"
Maybe.
22 February 2007
11 weeks 18 hours
Yes, marketing is definitely a key factor. It's just a terrible trend in AP writing to use that sort of extreme to make the news sound interesting (knowing that people watch the news less and less each year). They have to do something to make it sound interesting. I just wish it were something a little less mundane and redundant. Using the same hype three days in a row is aggravating.
I find it interesting that you criticize the news in Wisconsin for using larger words than they have to, yet you suggest they should say "extremeties" when "arms and legs" would work just fine.
22 February 2007
11 weeks 18 hours
I do not believe that I said anything about them using too-large of words. I merely mentioned the over-use of cliche in the news and radio reports.
Post new comment