Use of "passes away"

For some reason, the weekly I write for uses "passes away" when died or killed should be used.

In today's edition, there was this headline "Smith passes away after car accident." The lede mentioned that she died.

I might have used killed in one reference. She died at least two days after the collision.

I realize this isn't the most important thing and some may say I shouldn't sweat the small stuff, but I'm a big believer in being as good and professional as possible and this falls short of that.

 

So is it your paper's style to say Joe Schmoe is accused of passing away Mary Jane Rottencrotch?

 

Maybe it's not the most important thing, but I've noticed it creeping in as well. In J school, we were taught "passed away" is for the funeral homes. "Died" is what we should be using.

 

Use died.

We even list our obits as "death notices." Not my idea. I like "obituaries."

 

I like the phrase Joe Pesci's (I can't remember the character's name) role in "With Honors" used: Bit it.

 

At most papers, "Death notices" and "obituares" are two different things.

Death notices actually are paid notices detailing the next of kin, funeral arrangements, etc. Obits are simple write-ups on the person who died.

 

Banning "passed away" always struck me as one of the more random, nonsensical rules of thumb in our business.

 

Should always be died. That's what happened. Passed away is just slang to help people feel better, except in paid obits and even then I get annoyed.

 

Is the ME at your paper trying to be poltically correct, or what he/she views as PC? It doesn't make any sense not to use, "died."

 

We're writers and we're not allowed to use synonyms? Dumb rule.

 

In the paid death notices, people expire, pass away, go to sleep in Christ, go on to the next life, shuffle loose this mortal coil, take the night train to the big adios, cash in their chips at the Big Casino, whatever.
In news stories, they die. There's no reason to sugarcoat it, and woe betide any reporter who submits a story to me that says otherwise.

 

Not in death stories. There's no need.