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wow Offline
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However,I think that editors are obligated to find ways of avoiding such egregious errors. Luckily, I am not an editor and so don't have to know what he/she should have said.

Sigh. We are so under appreciated.... until the sloppy reporter/writer needs someone to blame.

I think I'd opt for : "of the options available the best of a bad lot was chosen " or sumpin like that...the whole things needs re-casting.
Oh pooh. Safire's right. The hell with it!
One of the prime rules for any type of writing is : "Don't confuse the reader."
Now, today's question is : does "least worst," used in this context, confuse the reader?



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At least nobody misunderstood it.


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Sigh. We are so under appreciated.... until the sloppy reporter/writer needs someone to blame.

And so, wow, who are we to blame for rewriting those sloppy leads that often appear to the embarrassing detriment of an otherwise brilliant story? jes' because an editor thinks they have to do that...ego prattle.

Has it come to this Whit, stealing Ted's lines. And one of his besttest ones too.

Thanks, milum...that's quite a compliment. But I'm not even close to TEd's league as a punnist. however, I did surprise even meownself with that one I did

"It's just the bestest band, what'am, honey lamb."

--Alexander's Ragtime Band, Irving Berlin, nigh 1920

(see, this bastardizing or evolutionizing of the language 'tain't nothin' new folks...and that's the least worst of it!)




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One of the prime rules for any type of writing is : "Don't confuse the reader."

But it's not the onliest rule. Maintaining certain standards of style oughta be in there somewhere.

not even close to TEd's league as a punnist

Fortunately, that's not your only redeeming social value.


#86917 11/17/02 08:38 PM
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If we're making up words, the *least we can do is spell them correctly!

That's spellt "kerrektly".

One of the prime rules for any type of writing is : "Don't confuse the reader."

...Maintaining certain standards of style oughta be in there somewhere.


Except for mystery writers and most of what I *pen.

That crack about "standards of style" makes me feels like I'm being taunted here ...and I think it's one of my legs.

Nothing personal, of course...


#86918 11/17/02 08:51 PM
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That crack about "standards of style"

Course it all depends on the pub you're writing for. If you're writing for the Journal of Obfuscatory Knowledge Educators it's one thing; if you're writing for the National Organization of Regular Minds it's a whole nother.


#86919 11/17/02 09:14 PM
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This seems to lead to: in order for us to "all get along" we have to be speaking the same language: doesn't it? [not that there's anything wrong with that].


#86920 11/18/02 06:58 PM
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in order for us to "all get along" we have to be speaking the same language:

H**l, no, dude!

All that is required is that you should comprehend the true meaning of what is being said, even if you are incapable of replicating the utterance.



( and of course, for the other person[s] to recoprocate!)


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Within the group of books which I consider to be the worst I've ever read, there is a pessimal one.


Sooo...that is absolutely the pessimal worst! oh, boy...I'm gonna get it now




#86922 11/23/02 08:19 PM
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( and of course, for the other person[s] to recoprocate!)

You're s*itting us, right?


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