Grammar Police Blotter

[Neumann Sennheiser]

This headline today on the main page of the on-line edition of the Seattle Times (..wonder if it made the print copy):

Bainbridge Island Police fatally shoot man with ax

For a small, local police force, that's some pretty specialized weaponry!

Could have written: Man With Ax Fatally Shot by Police or Police Fatally Shoot Ax-Wielding Man
but noooo.

[Neumann Sennheiser]

In the time it took for me to post the previous, the error had been corrected to a version of my second option.
It's gratifying to see that they have someone on the job checking for these things.

[jon]

Not so in the "new Canwest". Not long ago, I pointed out a glaring set of grammatical errors that completely confused the first paragraph of a reasonably important story. Just minutes after it was posted on the on-line site of the Edmonton Edition. I e-mailed the writer directly, recognizing her name as brand new, presumably fresh out of school. Politely explained all the problems.

Sure enough, the article made the print edition. Even if my e-mail arrived many hours before Deadline.

[Howaboutthat]

I guess there is no need to get into the oldies but goodies-

"Dead man found by a tree"

"The car failed to negotiate a curve"

etc etc

[crs]

"In other news, police are investigating another 'senseless' murder after neighbors discovered the body of Irving Senseless on his dining room rug. Police are now in the area 'sifting for clues.' " Vintage George Carlin!

It's a shame he never came up with a bit for the bad guy who "fled on foot". That's straight police speak for "the bad guy ran away."

[Russ_Byth]

My personal fave... thanks crs for jogging my mind...

Fled on foot from his residence.

[drmusic]

Police are investigating a single-vehicle rollover

[Mike Cleaver]

Not really grammar related but.......

"Tire makers recommend winter tires for safest winter driving"

DUH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A headline from the Sault Star newspaper.

[slowhand]

I know what you are getting at, Mike, but I could also see the headline "Tire makers only recommend All Season Tires for some seasons."