South Bend Tribune...Wrong, Wrong, WRONG!!!! (Part Deux)
Yesterday I had a total hissy fit!! Over and over in the South Bend Tribune print and online editions you see junk like this.....
State of the State: Daniels makes appeal to Demos
Hmmm, seems to be something wrong with that sentence.....
So, I checked dictionary.com and came up with this:
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) -
dem·o /ˈdɛmoʊ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[dem-oh] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun, plural dem·os. Informal.
1. demonstration (defs. 4,6).
2. demonstrator (def. 5).
3. a phonograph record or tape recording of a new song or of one performed by an unknown singer or singing group, distributed to disc jockeys, recording companies, etc., to demonstrate the merits of the song or performer.
and this......
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) -
Dem /dɛm/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[dem] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation–noun Informal.
1. a member of the Democratic party.
2. the Dems, the Democratic party.
Well, I have to admit that I went a little crazy. I emailed a friend of mine who is a reporter in DC to have him check his AP Stylebook (reporters bible for guidelines in things like this) and after a bit, he let me know that Demo is an archaic diminutive for Democrat that has not been used in many years, and that DEM is the one cited in the AP Stylebook. (there is an AP Stylebook online, but it is paid subscription)
I would like to credit Fred Dodd at the South Bend Tribune for looking into this (after an admittedly semi-pissed off voice mail from me) and calling a meeting with his copy editors. They discussed it, and agreed that DEMO is not the correct diminutive to use, and from now on their policy will be to use DEM.
Now, you might be wondering why I got all hopped up about this, and I will tell you.
For YEARS, the strategists on the right have been using words to try and pigeonhole Democrats, Progressives & Liberals. They say "Democrat Party" when it should be "Democratic Party". (One reason given for this is to emphasize democRAT) They say "Looney Left, Looney Liberals" and all that other garbage. In my humble opinion and many others I have asked, DEMO sounds really close to DUMBO or DUMMO.
I am very impressed that Mr Dodd and his editors took the time to correct something that they could have very easily ignored. (well, not really, but they didn't know what a pain in the ass I could be)
Looking forward to the first Tribune headline using the correct term, DEM!!!!
Cross-Posted In My Jar
posted by Paddy @ 11:43 AM
7 Comments:
Well, your first mistake was assuming that our fine local rag has a sense of style or editing.
The SBT consistently produces some of the finest examples of choppy sentences, incorrectly conjugated verbs, facts either not double checked or just plain wrong, names and pictures mismatched, and even misspellings (in this day of spellcheckers). You consistently find words like 'form' and 'from' mixed up...due to spellchecker programs.
Dodd is one fo their better wroters, he tends to cover the statehouse impartially.
Welcome to my world, I take the SBT for local news (obits, street closings, local HS sports) and throw the rest away.
I agree John B. I was mucho impressed that Mr Dodd dealt with it so swiftly. I usually read the SBT for the same things as you, but now that things are cooling down in Roseland, it's not going to be anywhere as much fun!!!
John,
How about some Stevie Shine up-dates?
Out West its really not big news.
Hugs etc...
JQP
well done.
Paddy - Great job!
JQP - See also Fort Wayne Left. Not much new to report, no charges are being filed.
Paddy - I'm impressed! You don't always get the outcome desired, but you have to try. In this case, it worked out well for you. Great job!
We also learned a new old word, now wasn't that fun?
Way to go Paddy. This has long been something that irks me to the highest degree. The changing of words they do really pisses me off! I just wanna beat them with a combat boot when I hear them say Democrat Party!!!!!!!!!
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