Getting 'untracked'

You usually have to use verbal before you get the oral.

 

Been there. During a brief period in the late 1990s when I supervised the sports copy desk, I came into the office after a day off to find that morning's paper waiting for me, with a similar headline circled in red and a note from my boss: "???"

I had to explain to him (and the executive editor, who joined the conversation) why the word has only one S — the root word is "deserve" — but they were still upset because they had taken dozens of calls from readers incorrectly pointing out the "error." I held the line — the copy editor who wrote it was right, and they were wrong. It took a lot of dictionaries and reference books, but eventually they begrudgingly acknowledged it.

The only fallout I shared with the copy editor — a former editor on the features desk — was that stupidity ran rampant among our readership, so the sports section might not have been the best venue for such intellectual word play.

 

I will admit that I thought it was just desserts. On the other hand, it's also a phrase I would try hard not to use in a headline or story.

 

I only not just understood you meant the issue was shortening commit, not making commitment a noun. That clicks.

At a point, I wonder how much "style" becomes more about pet peeves than anything else. I understand when it goes to clarity/conciseness, but at times, it feels like a grandiose game of gotcha and arguing over something that ends up being beside the point.

 

I've finally raised the white flag on "grow" when used for non-living things.

It all started with Bill Clinton, of course, and his attempts to "grow" the economy. Since then I've covered city council meetings where officials talk about "growing" the number of parking spaces. I just grit my teeth and quote 'em.

 

I still change over most of the time, more out of habit. I let that, as well as commit, slide occasionally. I figure people understand it either way and it has become too common to change every time.

Style certainly CAN be a waste of time, but grammar is our business, and it's critical. I don't spend time haggling about it, but I am constantly looking things up and double-checking when time permits. I like these discussions here so we can get other opinions/learn from each other.

 

I'd argue that our business is reporting the news.

 

Uhh. No shit? But after that, we have to fix your shit!

 

It's a fair point. As noted, I've changed things over the years in copy that don't necessarily bother my co-workers (and they've changed things I let through).

On the other hand, I'd argue that the word that started this thread (untracked) clearly goes over the cliche line. And my subtropical corner of the world will have to freeze over before I regard awful "words" such as "efforting" and "medalled" as acceptable uses of the language.

 

I have no problem with "tweeted out." You print out a document, no? You send out thoughts and prayers, no? It's a little redundant, but no more than in most usages.

 

No. You print a document.