50 years ago a newspaper editor, reporter and compositor would be fired. Alas, half the readership can't read these days either so it kinda balances out.
Unfortunately, this is all of a piece with the tendency for US English to weaken strong verbs. It is not incorrect to write for American readers the following: "I lighted the lamp. Its radiance shined out across the snow," no matter how barbarous it might appear to British sensibilities.
There one just appeared further down the page where a kitten uses its 'newly-discussed' Jedi skills
ReplyDeleteI assume they meant newly-discovered
50 years ago a newspaper editor, reporter and compositor would be fired. Alas, half the readership can't read these days either so it kinda balances out.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, this is all of a piece with the tendency for US English to weaken strong verbs. It is not incorrect to write for American readers the following: "I lighted the lamp. Its radiance shined out across the snow," no matter how barbarous it might appear to British sensibilities.
ReplyDelete"...where a kitten uses its 'newly-discussed' Jedi skills"
ReplyDeleteGAH!!
"Alas, half the readership can't read these days either so it kinda balances out."
Depressing thought...
"Unfortunately, this is all of a piece with the tendency for US English to weaken strong verbs."
I read quite a lot of US novels on the Kindle, and 'should of' is used a lot. It always grates!