Vancouver "Stun" continues to promote illiteracy

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Vancouver "Stun" continues to promote illiteracy

Postby Mike Cleaver » Tue Jan 15, 2013 11:40 pm

From Google News:


Five climate change protesters charged with trespassing after crashing ...
Vancouver Sun - ‎57 minutes ago‎

VANCOUVER - A group of five protesters were arrested and charged with trespassing after crashing Tuesday's public hearings on Enbridge's Northern Gateway project at its Vancouver venue.


"group" is a collective noun.
It takes a singular verb no matter what modifier (of five) is used.
This is/was grade 4 English.
Where are they finding their writers?
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Re: Vancouver "Stun" continues to promote illiteracy

Postby mccrady » Wed Jan 16, 2013 12:13 am

Do newspapers still employ editors? It not only shouldn't have been written that way, someone should have caught it.

A second's work with a pencil would have changed the lead to: "Five protesters were arrested and charged with trespassing ....", both eliminating the problem and tightening it up. We really need to be told it was a group?

Oh ... I forgot ... who uses pencils any more?

I'm dating myself. Again.

Sorry. I'll get back to gumming my oatmeal.
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Re: Vancouver "Stun" continues to promote illiteracy

Postby WheresFredTaylor » Wed Jan 16, 2013 7:49 am

Mike Cleaver wrote:"group" is a collective noun.
It takes a singular verb no matter what modifier (of five) is used.
This is/was grade 4 English.
Where are they finding their writers?


I don't think they teach that until grade 10. Maybe people would be better if they received better training and guidance in a smaller market?

"High school students in Yellowhead County will have an opportunity to earn credits and get first aid training and a green certificate in farm safety and receive high school credits."

- Edmonton area station
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Re: Vancouver "Stun" continues to promote illiteracy

Postby CubbyCam » Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:46 am

I heard that same story verbatim, on the CBC and remember thinking the same thing. I thought it was written by the CBC staffers, but apparently came on wire copy... and wasn't caught anywhere along the route.
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Re: Vancouver "Stun" continues to promote illiteracy

Postby J Kendrick » Thu Jan 17, 2013 6:43 pm

That's what you get when the schools now teach "Whole Language" instead of proper phonics and grammar.
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Re: Vancouver "Stun" continues to promote illiteracy

Postby xwdcatvb » Fri Jan 18, 2013 9:07 pm

Not necessarily, and certainly not in "English" english:

< http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/group.html>
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Re: Vancouver "Stun" continues to promote illiteracy

Postby isthisthingon » Sat Jan 19, 2013 11:04 am

xwdcatvb wrote:Not necessarily, and certainly not in "English" english:

< http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/group.html>


Thank you! "A couple does not argue among itself", discuss.

There are too many people on this site who can't wait to point out and pontificate on tiny slips they perceive as major assaults on the English language, while ignoring the real problems.

In Calgary, most station-produced spots I hear are based on impossible situations, written and badlly delivered in multiple tenses by people who should be working in a different business. ("Oh, hi Jen? I just can't find decent sourdough bread anywhere yet")
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Re: Vancouver "Stun" continues to promote illiteracy

Postby xwdcatvb » Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:39 pm

isthisthingon wrote:
xwdcatvb wrote:Not necessarily, and certainly not in "English" english:

< http://public.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/group.html>


Thank you! "A couple does not argue among itself", discuss.

There are too many people on this site who can't wait to point out and pontificate on tiny slips they perceive as major assaults on the English language, while ignoring the real problems.

In Calgary, most station-produced spots I hear are based on impossible situations, written and badlly delivered in multiple tenses by people who should be working in a different business. ("Oh, hi Jen? I just can't find decent sourdough bread anywhere yet")


That couple, as they forsook all others, would argue between themselves, or between each other. <grin>
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