An extension of the Common Sense Journalism monthly column by Doug Fisher, former broadcaster, newspaper reporter and wire service editor. From new media to old, much of journalism is just plain common sense.
"In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock." - Unknown (often improperly attributed to Thomas Jefferson)
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." - Upton Sinclair
"Common sense is not so common" - Voltaire
"Common sense is instinct; enough of it is genius" - George Bernard Shaw
From the brevity files
In Washington, the killing brought swift criticism from President Bush, who described it as a "barbaric" act.
In Washington, President Bush swiftly described the killing as "barbaric."
posted by Doug @ 8:11 PM
5 comments|
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5 Comments:
And here I thought I'd just get somebody posting a wise-acre crack about pairing "swift" with Bush.
I know what you're saying, but I'm not sure I see much alternative beyond an adverb. Part of the point of the sentence was to emphasize the switness with which he responded. I'm not sure there's an adequate verb here to do that.
The rewrite makes it sound like Bush's words came out of his mouth swiftly. Swift criticism, on the other hand, sounds like Bush criticized the act shortly after it happened. I have no problem with the original phrasing. The popularity may be due in part to the fact that it just sounds nicer.
Furthermore, I think this ignores the fact that "swift" is an editorial determination. Why not simply say that Bush called the beheadings barbaric? Readers will decide for themselves if his criticism was swift.
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Point well taken, but can't agree on the original, which is the typical overwritten Washington stuff.
Better then to use "quickly" (or even quick in the original -- I think that's easily defensible by looking at a watch. I was just trying to hew to the original to highlight the excess verbiage) ... In Washington, President Bush quickly described the killing as "barbaric." Or even shorter ... quickly called the killing "barbaric."
Saying "it brought swift criticism" is rather unnecessary unless one can interpret "barbaric" another way.
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