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Headlinese

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by UPChip, Sep 10, 2007.

  1. amraeder

    amraeder Well-Known Member

    Ugggh, they do this at my shop and i's one of my pet peeves. I had to ask "What the hell does this mean?" for a while. I mean, thinclads, harriers?
    After I'd been here a bit, and knowing it wouldn't be held against me, I said, "Man, I hate these terms. How many people even know what they mean?" but it's not like anyone cared (One writer said he liked them. To each their own I guess.)
    I never use them. That's about all I can do.
     
  2. dooley_womack1

    dooley_womack1 Well-Known Member

    The Globe-Democrat used those words in heds when I was growing up, but I haven't seen 'em in print since that paper bit the big 'un
     
  3. Football_Bat

    Football_Bat Well-Known Member

    Solons, anyone?
     
  4. Johnny Dangerously

    Johnny Dangerously Well-Known Member

    And then there are the lazy-headline-writer words, the ones you can see a thousand times each August during preseason football practice, the ones that come to mind in less than one second because they're worthless and easy:

    Coach Smith pleaseda with first practice
    Flaming Envelopes readyb for season opener


    aAren't they all?
    bHow do you know they are?

    But the headlinese I love are those wonderfully dull passive-voice heads:

    Election results told
    Survey outcome discussed


    And the headlines that nobody can understand because they're worded awkwardly, but at least they don't commit the mortal sin of using "the" or "a" or slang, so they've got that going for them:

    Budget green plan trucks tech growth

    No, I've never seen that headline, but to a lot of readers who don't know our rules, that's how many headlines read, and they need to be re-read about five times before you get them.

    Let me know when we get to the cutlinese thread. I want to give my thoughts about how so many people these days are engaged in the activity known in cutlines, and nowhere else in the known universe, as "looking on."

    State quarterback Bill Smith throws downfield as running back Mike Hayes looks on.
     
  5. Football_Bat

    Football_Bat Well-Known Member

    The cutlines with Stevie Wonder looking on are the best/worst.
     
  6. oldhack

    oldhack Member

    Injuns
    Redbirds
    Bosox
    Chisox
    and, my favorite, Pale Hose
     
  7. Football_Bat

    Football_Bat Well-Known Member

    I'm starting to see 'Rox' a lot (i.e. the Colorado baseball team).

    Is that old school or new school?
     
  8. Johnny Dangerously

    Johnny Dangerously Well-Known Member

    Middle school.
     
  9. Ace

    Ace Well-Known Member

    Ka-ching!
     
  10. EE94

    EE94 Guest

    ducats are still available
     
  11. Arghh. Used to work for an SE who loved the word "ducats"

    I would change it every damn time.
     
  12. doctor x

    doctor x Member

    CHAMBER PREXY HITS SOLONS BEFORE LOCAL ROTES
    (Translation: The president of the Chamber of Commerce criticized legislators in a speech to the Rotary Club.)
     
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