WashingtonPost topples English grammatical rule

Forums: English, Esl, Grammar
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Starts its headline with Arabic number:

(about 9 hours ago):

http://www.picupload.us/images/000000disa.jpg

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Type: Question • Score: 8 • Views: 1,531 • Replies: 37

[+5] - McTag - 09/19/2011 [quote]I recognize only those rules of grammar that r based upon sound logic; most of them r. [/quote] 3 blind mice C how they run
[+3] - Lustig Andrei - 09/19/2011[Quote=OmSigDAVID]The reason that thay now offend your eyes is that u r not accustomed to them; if u 'd learned it the better way, then it 'd seem appropriate to u.[/quote] Nonsense. The...

@oristarA,

In headlines you can get away with anything. I bet they wouldn't allow it within the body of a story.

1 Reply

@Lustig Andrei,

Thanks

0 Replies

@oristarA,

MOST of the time, English grammar follows accurate logic;
not in this matter.

There is NO logical reason to restrain yourself from beginning a sentence with a number.
I will take no cognizance of that rule; it makes no sense.
It is arbitrary and capricious. It does not deserve to be honored. It deserves to topple.

David

1 Reply

@oristarA,

that is often done to make the headline fit on the page...

0 Replies

@oristarA,

No mistake there, a headline is not supposed to be a sentence.

1 Reply

@McTag,

McTag wrote:

No mistake there, a headline is not supposed to be a sentence.

Even if it WERE a sentence,
there is no logical reason against beginning it with a number,
beyond mindless, slaveish adherence to an arbitrary rule.

David

2 Replies

@OmSigDAVID,

Good style is good style.

Your style is very bad...an absence of style, I would say.

1 Reply

@McTag,

McTag wrote:

Good style is good style.

Obviously, "good" is always sufficiently specific.

McTag wrote:

Your style is very bad...an absence of style, I would say.

We disagree.
Your reasoning is not at all clear;
absent from your post.
Maybe its like "art"; u like it or not; I dunno.

David

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

Quote:

beyond mindless, slaveish[sic] adherence to an arbitrary rule.

You do that all the time, Om. You are a walking, talking example of a person who slavishly and ignorantly follows arbitrary grammar rules.

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

OmSigDAVID wrote:

Maybe its like "art"; u like it or not;

No, not like art, more like a symptom.

0 Replies

@JTT,

David wrote:

beyond mindless, slaveish[sic] adherence to an arbitrary rule.

JTT wrote:

You do that all the time, Om. You are a walking, talking example of a person who slavishly and ignorantly follows arbitrary grammar rules.

I deny and reject your personal insolence.
I recognize only those rules of grammar
that r based upon sound logic; most of them r.

David

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

OmSigDAVID wrote:

MOST of the time, English grammar follows accurate logic;
not in this matter.

There is NO logical reason to restrain yourself from beginning a sentence with a number.
I will take no cognizance of that rule; it makes no sense.
It is arbitrary and capricious. It does not deserve to be honored. It deserves to topple.

David

Actually, to be more precise, this has nothing to do with "grammar." It's what in the news biz is called "style." Every news organization has a "style book" which guides writers and reporters in writing a story in a manner acceptable to the linguistic standards set by the powers that be. There is nothing inherently "wrong" with starting a sentence with a numeral; it's simply not acceptable news-writing style. And it's not considered acceptable in most other written venues either. Any college undergrad would most likely get an unfavorable response to this from his/her instructor were they to use so unorthodox a style in a term paper. Again, it's not "wrong" and it has nothing to do with proper "grammar." It's just not generaly acceptable.

1 Reply

@Lustig Andrei,

OmSigDAVID wrote:

MOST of the time, English grammar follows accurate logic;
not in this matter.

There is NO logical reason to restrain yourself from beginning a sentence with a number.
I will take no cognizance of that rule; it makes no sense.
It is arbitrary and capricious. It does not deserve to be honored. It deserves to topple.

David

Lustig Andrei wrote:

Actually, to be more precise, this has nothing to do with "grammar." It's what in the news biz is called "style." Every news organization has a "style book" which guides writers and reporters in writing a story in a manner acceptable to the linguistic standards set by the powers that be. There is nothing inherently "wrong" with starting a sentence with a numeral; it's simply not acceptable news-writing style. And it's not considered acceptable in most other written venues either. Any college undergrad would most likely get an unfavorable response to this from his/her instructor were they to use so unorthodox a style in a term paper. Again, it's not "wrong" and it has nothing to do with proper "grammar." It's just not generaly acceptable.

THANK U, for that information.
It cheers me up.

David

1 Reply

@OmSigDAVID,

Quote:

THANK U, for that information.
It cheers me up.
David

I'm always glad when I can make your day more cheerful, Dave. Cheers! Laughing

0 Replies

@OmSigDAVID,

Quote:

I recognize only those rules of grammar
that r based upon sound logic; most of them r.

3 blind mice
C how they run

2 Replies

@McTag,

That one's definitely a thumbs-up post.

0 Replies

I wanna know what the administration scrambling over a book portraying a dysfunctional White House has to do with the Baltimore football team.

0 Replies

@McTag,

David wrote:

I recognize only those rules of grammar
that r based upon sound logic; most of them r.

McTag wrote:

3 blind mice
C how they run

I understand that u r scoffing,
but it is my desire that these quick forms be adopted as the norm.
Thay r better than the old norm. Thay HAVE been adopted in fone texting.
I hope that this form will become more fully pervasive.
It is a terrible thing to perpetuate them by poisoning the minds
of youth in schools with the old illogical n inefficient forms.

I long for fonetic lexicografers to analyse the situation
and render an optimally logical n convenient nu dictionary,
that successfully straightens out extant problems.
It can be refined in future editions, as better ideas r conceived.

The reason that thay now offend your eyes
is that u r not accustomed to them; if u 'd learned it the better way,
then it 'd seem appropriate to u.

David

2 Replies

@OmSigDAVID,

Quote:

it is my desire that these quick forms be adopted as the norm.

Good luck with that.

How is your Esperanto, by the way?

2 Replies

WashingtonPost topples English grammatical rule

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