Unanswered points

You should only used unanswered if it's a run at the end of a game, half or quarter. And even then, you should only use it sparingly.

 

I disagree about "straight." It's in the lexicon. Words are adaptable.

 

Unless he's either taken his Paula Abdul to a new level, or his steroid use is more rampant than we even thought, yes, he does.

 

I still change "straight" to "consecutive" every time, but it's a losing battle, as Ace noted. AP uses straight pretty much all the time.

I make the change, but we've reached the point where I'm just not going to ask all of our editors to do it all the time. Too much else of more importance.

But when I see these recurring threads, I wonder where all the people are who are still making it consecutive, because I rarely go anywhere online or in print these days where I don't see "straight."

 

I keep waiting for someone to write about a game in which the teams alternate touchdowns to write that "they scored 21 answered points." I, of course, never would want that in my paper, but it makes as much sense as "scored 21 unanswered points."

 

Since their stories broke, Woodward and Bernstein were asked, "Who is Deepthroat?"
The question went unanswered for 30-plus years. Until it was. During the period of silence, it was unanswered.
If you think it's a bad word to use, okay. But it's not wrong.

 

We've made it this far without anyone decrying "back-to-back"?

 

I didn't say use "consecutive" when covering poker. By all means, use straight.

But if the Cleveland Cavs win 14 of their next 14 games, they will have won 14 consecutive games.

 

Puh-lease ... and I suppose Ohio State didn't beat Michigan because there was no blunt, trauma-causing object used during the game.

 

Yes, because if the opposite a word doesn't work, then the original word must be useless, too.

Christ, you guys are incredible. These mostly are questions of individual preference. Just because you don't like the way it sounds or reads doesn't mean there should be a rule against it.

Loosen up.

 

You're right. They also won 14 straight games and won 14 in a row. Last time I checked, straight can be used as an adjective.

2 a : lying along or holding to a direct or proper course or method <a straight thinker> b : CANDID, FRANK <a straight answer> c : coming directly from a trustworthy source <a straight tip on the horses> d (1) : having the elements in an order <the straight sequence of events> (2) : CONSECUTIVE <12 straight days>

 

I don't see any way "unanswered" is a matter of personal preference. It's plain wrong unless the run ended the game. If, at any point, a team scores after such a run, it is not unanswered (especially if you mention it, like Michaels did, BEFORE THE OTHER TEAM HAS A CHANCE TO ANSWER!).

In a gamer or column, which is clearly written after the game, why you would want to refer to a run that is "temporarily" unanswered -- as alluded to above -- is beyond me.