Words we never need

Well, except in the context of that example.

 

How could you ever unintentionally use a word as clunky as "utilize"?

 

And that doesn't count.

 

It would mean I did a really bad job of editing a story.

 

"Facility" is a word I hate. Once got a story that said "hospital" in the first sentence and then the writer said "facility" the rest of the way ... 28 times. Damn right I counted 'em. It was that bad.

 

Here's one we haven't covered: the use of exploded in sports terms, as in, "the Whistlers exploded for six runs..." Unless there are multiple body parts strewn about as a result, don't use it.

And I agree with the lady who called in to complain about using, "gunned down at the plate." The casual use of gun-violence verbs in sports needs to stop.

 

"Jordan's on fire tonight! ... ¡El Fuego! ... ¡En Fuego!"

 

Probably not in the right context for this thread, but I saw something tonight that is really becoming a pet peeve.

"Podunk baseball sweeps Hickville."

"Jonestown loses to Jackson softball."

Treating sports as if they are human is poor writing at best and idiotic at worst. I know it helps keep headlines short, but for crying out loud, we don't write something wrong just because writing it correctly takes too long.

Or do we? Without copy editors, one would never know sometimes.

 

Re: "Exploded" ... can't agree enough.

It's all Burnt Hamburger's fault.

 

"prior to"

You can't sound more like an automaton (or a football referee ... or Joe Buck).

 

Maybe I'm missing something, but how is this wrong? And how else would you write it?

 

Podunk sweeps Hicksville.

Unless it is for a coach, do you REALLY need to throw the specific sport in the headline (in this case, a gamer)?