Friday, November 16, 2007

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh

Every year the warnings go out. And every year they get ignored:

'Hannah' fans rejoice: More tickets soon
Parents, Christmas just came early for you and your kids.

No, no, no. Never, never, never. "Christmas came early" is forbidden in all forms, in all media, under all circumstances. Which of those did the author of this appalling lede deem it exempt from?

Directly addressing the reader is what's called an "aggravating factor." Some readers might have moppets who have better stuff to do ("Wow, Mom! SPSS 15.0!"), and it's generally wise for news organizations not to assume all their readers fit a particular zombie mode.

John McIntyre has posted a comprehensive warning list of forbidden holiday cliches over at his excellent blog. Please heed it. All copy editors understand the occasional need to beat our heads against a brick wall. We only get irritated when we have to beat our heads against the same brick wall over and over and over again.

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1 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ah, 'tis the season! (Sorry, couldn't resist!!) Holly

10:25 PM, November 16, 2007  

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