Everyone could use a little education. That includes reporters and copy editors. With this post, we'll offer a quiz based on recent education-themed sentences that were edited before getting into The Forum.
See if you can pick out the flubs.
1. About 40 percent of Minnesota students in grades 5 and 8 are proficient in science.
2. Seven members of her cabinet joined her on stage.
3. Many of the south side schools will be full because of the south side's growth.
4. The district anticipates an enrollment of 860 kindergarteners.
5. It's the first year both districts are offering all-day kindergarten district-wide.
6. Thirty-two percent of the state's 12th graders smoke.
7. But five-year-old Ellen is excited she gets to be like her big brother.
1. About 40 percent of Minnesota students in grades five and eight are proficient in science.
2. Seven members of her Cabinet joined her on stage.
AP Stylebook says: cabinet Capitalize references to a specific body of advisers heading executive departments for a president, king, govvernor, etc. The capital letter distinguishes the word from the common noun meaning cupboard, which is lowercase.
The example refers to Minnesota State University Moorhead President Edna Szymanski's Cabinet of advisers.
3. Many of the southside schools will be full because of the southside's growth.
4. The district anticipates an enrollment of 860 kindergartners.
5. It's the first year both districts are offering all-day kindergarten districtwide.
AP Stylebook says: -wide No hyphen. Some examples: Citywide, nationwide, continentwide, statewide, countrywide, worldwide, industrywide.
6. Thirty-two percent of the state's 12th-graders smoke.
7. But 5-year-old Ellen is excited she gets to be like her big brother.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Can you guess who wrote these sentences?
See if you can find the flubs in this week's sentences that were edited before they appeared in The Forum.
1. "Everyday I get a customer from the old store and everyday we get new customers."
2. A career soldier had his life spared on two different occasions because of a decision made by two different individuals.
3. City Commissioners voted Monday to approve a rate increase.
4. The Kennedy's met while attending Marin Bible College.
5. "This is Democracy at its best."
6. The City of Moorhead will reveal an update to a feasability study.
7. The commercial features elementary school children.
8. "There's a lot going on under those grey hairs."
1. "Every day I get a customer from the old store and every day we get new customers."
2. A career soldier had his life spared on two occasions because of a decision made by two individuals.
3. City commissioners voted Monday to approve a rate increase.
4. The Kennedys met while attending Marin Bible College.
5. "This is democracy at its best."
6. The city of Moorhead will reveal an update to a feasability study.
7. The commercial features elementary schoolchildren.
1. "Everyday I get a customer from the old store and everyday we get new customers."
2. A career soldier had his life spared on two different occasions because of a decision made by two different individuals.
3. City Commissioners voted Monday to approve a rate increase.
4. The Kennedy's met while attending Marin Bible College.
5. "This is Democracy at its best."
6. The City of Moorhead will reveal an update to a feasability study.
7. The commercial features elementary school children.
8. "There's a lot going on under those grey hairs."
1. "Every day I get a customer from the old store and every day we get new customers."
2. A career soldier had his life spared on two occasions because of a decision made by two individuals.
3. City commissioners voted Monday to approve a rate increase.
4. The Kennedys met while attending Marin Bible College.
5. "This is democracy at its best."
6. The city of Moorhead will reveal an update to a feasability study.
7. The commercial features elementary schoolchildren.
8. "There's a lot going on under those gray hairs."
Monday, August 4, 2008
Never a bankruptcy of flubs
See how many flubs you can find in this week's quiz. These are all sentences that appeared in stories edited by copy editors before they appeared in The Forum.
1. A chapter 7 bankruptcy case does not involve filing a repayment plan.
2. Graduation ceremonies are at 7 p.m. tonight.
3. It's one of the lynchpins.
4. "1st Avenue needs to have a spark of improvement on it," Lee said.
5. Controversy surrounds the long-time comedian.
6. Judges on the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals have been reluctant to equate illegality with unconstitutionality.
7. Fargo received 0.04 inches of rain Thursday evening.
1. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy case does not involve filing a repayment plan.
2. Graduation ceremonies are at 7 tonight.
3. It's one of the linchpins.
4. "First Avenue needs to have a spark of improvement on it," Lee said.
5. Controversy surrounds the longtime comedian.
6. Judges on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have been reluctant to equate illegality with unconstitutionality.
7. Fargo received 0.04 inch of rain Thursday evening.
1. A chapter 7 bankruptcy case does not involve filing a repayment plan.
2. Graduation ceremonies are at 7 p.m. tonight.
3. It's one of the lynchpins.
4. "1st Avenue needs to have a spark of improvement on it," Lee said.
5. Controversy surrounds the long-time comedian.
6. Judges on the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals have been reluctant to equate illegality with unconstitutionality.
7. Fargo received 0.04 inches of rain Thursday evening.
1. A Chapter 7 bankruptcy case does not involve filing a repayment plan.
2. Graduation ceremonies are at 7 tonight.
3. It's one of the linchpins.
4. "First Avenue needs to have a spark of improvement on it," Lee said.
5. Controversy surrounds the longtime comedian.
6. Judges on the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals have been reluctant to equate illegality with unconstitutionality.
7. Fargo received 0.04 inch of rain Thursday evening.
Monday, July 28, 2008
I'm back
I'm finally back to a relatively normal schedule after attending a couple of weddings and taking a vacation.
I'm sure all of you have been anxiously waiting for a new post, so let's get right to it.
After an intense consultation with copy editors Stephanie Selensky and Mark Merck - actually, a couple of e-mails - we've decided to change the Forum style on day care and health care to conform with AP style. Day care and health care will be two words, no hyphen, in all cases. Until now, Forum style has been to hyphenate when they modify.
See if you can find the flubs in the following sentences. These sentences were in stories that came to the copy desk before the stories were edited.
1. It's a more than six-fold increase.
2. Fargo City Commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to approve two flood-control plans.
3. Work is underway on the interchange.
4. The project carries a price tag of $25 to $30 million.
5. Dirks served in the army from 1983 to 1987.
6. The media often gladly covers these staged events.
1. It's a more than sixfold increase.
AP Stylebook says: -fold No hyphen: twofold, fourfold
2. Fargo city commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to approve two flood-control plans.
3. Work is under way on the interchange.
4. The project carries a price tag of $25 million to $30 million.
5. Dirks served in the Army from 1983 to 1987.
AP Stylebook says: army Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces: the U.S. Army, the Army, Army regulations. Do not use the abbreviation USA. Use lowercase for the forces of other nations.
6. The media often gladly cover these staged events.
AP Stylebook says: In the sense of mass communication, such as magazines, newspapers, the news services, radio and television, the word is plural: The news media area resisiting attempts to limit their freedom.
I'm sure all of you have been anxiously waiting for a new post, so let's get right to it.
After an intense consultation with copy editors Stephanie Selensky and Mark Merck - actually, a couple of e-mails - we've decided to change the Forum style on day care and health care to conform with AP style. Day care and health care will be two words, no hyphen, in all cases. Until now, Forum style has been to hyphenate when they modify.
See if you can find the flubs in the following sentences. These sentences were in stories that came to the copy desk before the stories were edited.
1. It's a more than six-fold increase.
2. Fargo City Commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to approve two flood-control plans.
3. Work is underway on the interchange.
4. The project carries a price tag of $25 to $30 million.
5. Dirks served in the army from 1983 to 1987.
6. The media often gladly covers these staged events.
1. It's a more than sixfold increase.
AP Stylebook says: -fold No hyphen: twofold, fourfold
2. Fargo city commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to approve two flood-control plans.
3. Work is under way on the interchange.
4. The project carries a price tag of $25 million to $30 million.
5. Dirks served in the Army from 1983 to 1987.
AP Stylebook says: army Capitalize when referring to U.S. forces: the U.S. Army, the Army, Army regulations. Do not use the abbreviation USA. Use lowercase for the forces of other nations.
6. The media often gladly cover these staged events.
AP Stylebook says: In the sense of mass communication, such as magazines, newspapers, the news services, radio and television, the word is plural: The news media area resisiting attempts to limit their freedom.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
More juicy morsels
I have more juicy morsels for you to digest in this week's post. See if you can find the flub in each sentence.
1. Other events will include a barbeque dinner, beer garden, camping, treasure hunts and more.
2. Rob Beer is opening a south-side store.
3. Rob Beer was arrested for violating anti-trust laws.
4. Rob Beer will take care of the company's Web cast and on-line auctions.
5. Board Chair Rob Beer called the vote ridiculous.
6. Rob Beer says plans are underway for a labotomy.
7. The semi-finalists are Rob Beer, Neil Mulka, Lonna Whiting, Stephanie Selensky and Heidi
Tetzman.
8. Youth can create their own kites or bring their own to fly.
1. Other events will include a barbecue dinner, beer garden, camping, treasure hunts and more.
2. Rob Beer is opening a southside store.
3. Rob Beer was arrested for violating antitrust laws.
4. Rob Beer will take care of the company's webcast and online auctions.
5. Board Chairman Rob Beer called the vote ridiculous.
6. Rob Beer says plans are under way for a lobotomy.
7. The semifinalists are Rob Beer, Neil Mulka, Lonna Whiting, Stephanie Selensky and Heidi
Tetzman.
8. Youths can create their own kites or bring their own to fly.
1. Other events will include a barbeque dinner, beer garden, camping, treasure hunts and more.
2. Rob Beer is opening a south-side store.
3. Rob Beer was arrested for violating anti-trust laws.
4. Rob Beer will take care of the company's Web cast and on-line auctions.
5. Board Chair Rob Beer called the vote ridiculous.
6. Rob Beer says plans are underway for a labotomy.
7. The semi-finalists are Rob Beer, Neil Mulka, Lonna Whiting, Stephanie Selensky and Heidi
Tetzman.
8. Youth can create their own kites or bring their own to fly.
1. Other events will include a barbecue dinner, beer garden, camping, treasure hunts and more.
2. Rob Beer is opening a southside store.
3. Rob Beer was arrested for violating antitrust laws.
4. Rob Beer will take care of the company's webcast and online auctions.
5. Board Chairman Rob Beer called the vote ridiculous.
6. Rob Beer says plans are under way for a lobotomy.
7. The semifinalists are Rob Beer, Neil Mulka, Lonna Whiting, Stephanie Selensky and Heidi
Tetzman.
8. Youths can create their own kites or bring their own to fly.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Quizzically speaking
See if you can find the flubs in these sentences that recently appeared in stories edited by Forum copy editors:
1. The annual payroll will be between $2.5 and $3 million.
2. It cost between $3,000 to $5,000.
3. Monday's West Fargo school board meeting will probably have the atmospherics of an orderly divorce proceeding.
4. After graduating high school, Larson worked in low-paying jobs around Fargo-Moorhead.
5. His soft taps with a rawhide mallet reshape an injured brass saxophone.
6. "I think we got some really good applicants out of it," said Chair Chad Holland.
1. The annual payroll will be between $2.5 million and $3 million.
2. It cost between $3,000 and $5,000.
3. Monday's West Fargo School Board meeting will probably have the atmospherics of an orderly divorce proceeding.
4. After graduating from high school, Larson worked in low-paying jobs around Fargo-Moorhead.
5. His soft taps with a rawhide mallet reshape a damaged brass saxophone.
6. "I think we got some really good applicants out of it," said Chairman Chad Holland.
That's it for this week.
1. The annual payroll will be between $2.5 and $3 million.
2. It cost between $3,000 to $5,000.
3. Monday's West Fargo school board meeting will probably have the atmospherics of an orderly divorce proceeding.
4. After graduating high school, Larson worked in low-paying jobs around Fargo-Moorhead.
5. His soft taps with a rawhide mallet reshape an injured brass saxophone.
6. "I think we got some really good applicants out of it," said Chair Chad Holland.
1. The annual payroll will be between $2.5 million and $3 million.
2. It cost between $3,000 and $5,000.
3. Monday's West Fargo School Board meeting will probably have the atmospherics of an orderly divorce proceeding.
4. After graduating from high school, Larson worked in low-paying jobs around Fargo-Moorhead.
5. His soft taps with a rawhide mallet reshape a damaged brass saxophone.
6. "I think we got some really good applicants out of it," said Chairman Chad Holland.
That's it for this week.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Quiz time
Go ahead! See if you can find the flubs in each sentence.
1. Rob Beer developed a spreadsheet comparing various budget proposals.
2. The state of Minnesota currently faces a nearly $1 billion deficit.
3. Langseth owns a dairy farm in Glyndon, Minn.
4. Seventy to 89 percent felt they had an additional eight of the abilities.
5. Erdle's body was sent to the North Dakota Medical Examiner's Office in Bismarck for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
6. He was recently released from the state penitentiary in Bismarck.
7. That includes the pulpit and alter, which were created from trees.
1. Rob Beer developed a spreadsheet comparing budget proposals.
"Various" is unnecessary.
2. The state of Minnesota faces a nearly $1 billion deficit.
"Currently" is unnecessary.
3. Langseth owns a dairy farm in Glyndon.
"Minn." is unnecessary because the story is about Minnesota state Rep. Keith Langseth of Glyndon.
4. Seventy percent to 89 percent felt they had an additional eight of the abilities.
5. Erdle's body was sent to the North Dakota Medical Examiner's Office in Bismarck for an autopsy.
"... to determine the cause of death" is redundant because "that's what autopsies always do," says Forum copy desk honcho Stephanie Selensky. The definition of autopsy: An examination and dissection of a dead body to discover the cause of death, damage done by diease, etc.
6. He was recently released from the State Penitentiary in Bismarck.
Forum style is to capitalize State Penitentiary, State Bank, State Hospital and State Mill.
1. Rob Beer developed a spreadsheet comparing various budget proposals.
2. The state of Minnesota currently faces a nearly $1 billion deficit.
3. Langseth owns a dairy farm in Glyndon, Minn.
4. Seventy to 89 percent felt they had an additional eight of the abilities.
5. Erdle's body was sent to the North Dakota Medical Examiner's Office in Bismarck for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.
6. He was recently released from the state penitentiary in Bismarck.
7. That includes the pulpit and alter, which were created from trees.
1. Rob Beer developed a spreadsheet comparing budget proposals.
"Various" is unnecessary.
2. The state of Minnesota faces a nearly $1 billion deficit.
"Currently" is unnecessary.
3. Langseth owns a dairy farm in Glyndon.
"Minn." is unnecessary because the story is about Minnesota state Rep. Keith Langseth of Glyndon.
4. Seventy percent to 89 percent felt they had an additional eight of the abilities.
5. Erdle's body was sent to the North Dakota Medical Examiner's Office in Bismarck for an autopsy.
"... to determine the cause of death" is redundant because "that's what autopsies always do," says Forum copy desk honcho Stephanie Selensky. The definition of autopsy: An examination and dissection of a dead body to discover the cause of death, damage done by diease, etc.
6. He was recently released from the State Penitentiary in Bismarck.
Forum style is to capitalize State Penitentiary, State Bank, State Hospital and State Mill.
7. That includes the pulpit and altar, which were created from trees.
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