Post story on relatives of victims in Ray Lewis obstruction of justice case

Dick Whitman · Jan 28, 2013

RonClements said:

I cannot stand articles that quote somebody with "says" instead of "said." If it was said, and it's a one-time comment, you use said. If it's something the person is known to say often, you use says. It's that simple. Do not write in present tense. We're not reading it as you write it and we weren't there when you did the interview. You wrote it, we read it later, it's past tense, so using said is the grammatically correct choice.
It's a MAJOR pet peeve of mine.
Click to expand...

I completely disagree.

"Says" is used to give the story immediacy as occuring in the present tense, particularly when some of the events of the story have taken place in the past. It's a useful signal to readers that the source is talking now.

I noticed that Jeff Pearlman, and probably others, use "says" in books for interviews they actually conducted and "said" for quotes cribbed from other sources. I adopted the same style.

"Says" is fine, used correctly. It's actually preferable.

RonClements · Jan 28, 2013

Dick Whitman said:

RonClements said:

I cannot stand articles that quote somebody with "says" instead of "said." If it was said, and it's a one-time comment, you use said. If it's something the person is known to say often, you use says. It's that simple. Do not write in present tense. We're not reading it as you write it and we weren't there when you did the interview. You wrote it, we read it later, it's past tense, so using said is the grammatically correct choice.
It's a MAJOR pet peeve of mine.
Click to expand...

I completely disagree.

"Says" is used to give the story immediacy as occuring in the present tense, particularly when some of the events of the story have taken place in the past. It's a useful signal to readers that the source is talking now.

I noticed that Jeff Pearlman, and probably others, use "says" in books for interviews they actually conducted and "said" for quotes cribbed from other sources. I adopted the same style.

"Says" is fine, used correctly. It's actually preferable.
Click to expand...

Well, you're wrong. It bothers me every time I get the press releases from the NFL and coaches and players are always quoted as "says." It's the proverbial fingernails on chalk board. The person SAID it, past tense.

RonClements · Jan 28, 2013

Versatile said:

RonClements said:

I cannot stand articles that quote somebody with "says" instead of "said." If it was said, and it's a one-time comment, you use said. If it's something the person is known to say often, you use says. It's that simple. Do not write in present tense. We're not reading it as you write it and we weren't there when you did the interview. You wrote it, we read it later, it's past tense, so using said is the grammatically correct choice.
It's a MAJOR pet peeve of mine.
Click to expand...

This is your takeaway from that story?
Click to expand...

LOL. Not the only thing, just one of the things that really made it even more annoying to try to read.

michael_badley · Jan 28, 2013

So he's "wrong" because it's your pet peeve? Gotcha.

Dick Whitman is actually correct. When there are several time elements, this is a marker that keeps the reader in the present.

Unlike your reasoning, this isn't an opinion. It's the reason it's often done.

Riptide · Jan 28, 2013

RonClements said:

Dick Whitman said:

RonClements said:

I cannot stand articles that quote somebody with "says" instead of "said." If it was said, and it's a one-time comment, you use said. If it's something the person is known to say often, you use says. It's that simple. Do not write in present tense. We're not reading it as you write it and we weren't there when you did the interview. You wrote it, we read it later, it's past tense, so using said is the grammatically correct choice.
It's a MAJOR pet peeve of mine.
Click to expand...

I completely disagree.

"Says" is used to give the story immediacy as occuring in the present tense, particularly when some of the events of the story have taken place in the past. It's a useful signal to readers that the source is talking now.

I noticed that Jeff Pearlman, and probably others, use "says" in books for interviews they actually conducted and "said" for quotes cribbed from other sources. I adopted the same style.

"Says" is fine, used correctly. It's actually preferable.
Click to expand...

Well, you're wrong. It bothers me every time I get the press releases from the NFL and coaches and players are always quoted as "says." It's the proverbial fingernails on chalk board. The person SAID it, past tense.
Click to expand...

You have no idea what you're talking about.
You also need work on picking MAJOR pet peeves.

dirtybird · Jan 28, 2013

I've always like "says" if you're painting a scene or jumping between time periods, but rarely think it adds much elsewhere. Then again, these are all pet peeves and preferences, neither wrong not right.

Hell, the AP stylebook is really just a compendium of preferences decided by one group.

Yodel · Jan 28, 2013

Dick Whitman said:

RonClements said:

I cannot stand articles that quote somebody with "says" instead of "said." If it was said, and it's a one-time comment, you use said. If it's something the person is known to say often, you use says. It's that simple. Do not write in present tense. We're not reading it as you write it and we weren't there when you did the interview. You wrote it, we read it later, it's past tense, so using said is the grammatically correct choice.
It's a MAJOR pet peeve of mine.
Click to expand...

I completely disagree.

"Says" is used to give the story immediacy as occuring in the present tense, particularly when some of the events of the story have taken place in the past. It's a useful signal to readers that the source is talking now.

I noticed that Jeff Pearlman, and probably others, use "says" in books for interviews they actually conducted and "said" for quotes cribbed from other sources. I adopted the same style.

"Says" is fine, used correctly. It's actually preferable.
Click to expand...

Your style is wrong, then.

Double Down · Jan 28, 2013

Seems like this said vs. says debate could be its own thread and we could talk about the ethical complexities faced by the reporters competing for this story.

Uncle.Ruckus · Jan 28, 2013

Not only that, but it's a debate we've had here, several fucking times.

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/85387/

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/71480/

Doc Holliday · Jan 29, 2013

This story has slimey all over it. The mother obviously didn't care enough to go to this kids grave for 13 years, yet the WP prods her into going, then shoots photos of her crying and quotes her.

I got a sickly, greasy feeling reading this. It didn't turn into one of those pieces that reaches into the pit of your stomach and turns it inside out. I'm sure they thought they had a home run when they produced this.

All I see is a media taking advantage of someone's suffering to cash in on and exploit. Disgraceful.

JackReacher · Jan 29, 2013

Doc Holliday said:

This story has slimey all over it. The mother obviously didn't care enough to go to this kids grave for 13 years, yet the WP prods her into going, then shoots photos of her crying and quotes her.

I got a sickly, greasy feeling reading this. It didn't turn into one of those pieces that reaches into the pit of your stomach and turns it inside out. I'm sure they thought they had a home run when they produced this.

All I see is a media taking advantage of someone's suffering to cash in on and exploit. Disgraceful.
Click to expand...

Agree on all that. Not the WaPo's finest hour. The graveside visit was completely unnecessary. If she brought it up and suggested it? Fine. Otherwise, the story (stories) could have been written without that.

Drip · Jan 1, 2015

JackReacher said:

Doc Holliday said:

This story has slimey all over it. The mother obviously didn't care enough to go to this kids grave for 13 years, yet the WP prods her into going, then shoots photos of her crying and quotes her.

I got a sickly, greasy feeling reading this. It didn't turn into one of those pieces that reaches into the pit of your stomach and turns it inside out. I'm sure they thought they had a home run when they produced this.

All I see is a media taking advantage of someone's suffering to cash in on and exploit. Disgraceful.
Click to expand...

Agree on all that. Not the WaPo's finest hour. The graveside visit was completely unnecessary. If she brought it up and suggested it? Fine. Otherwise, the story (stories) could have been written without that.
Click to expand...

WaPo used to give a shit.

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Post story on relatives of victims in Ray Lewis obstruction of justice case

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Post story on relatives of victims in Ray Lewis obstruction of justice case

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