My editing pet peeve - what's yours?

She could have done to your balls what Lorena did to John Wayne Bobbitt's package.

 

When I've created style manuals, I've aimed for establishing a style that establishes meaningful distinctions or provides a set of consistent standards.

More to the point: I wanted to have a logical reason for every entry I created and every rule I instituted.
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Exactly. Same reason I use "12 p.m." instead of "noon" in our TV listings, even though it goes against AP style. All the other times in the listings are listed as numerals, and I think in a breakout like that it makes more sense to continue that pattern. Plus, I think people make the cognitive connection to numbers faster than they do with letters.

 

I prefer to use military time, roman numerals and the metric system in copy. Makes me unique in my newsroom.

 

True dat.

But when the TV times are listed in chronological order and in a list or breakout format, I think numerical makes more sense.

• 9 a.m., NHL: Ducks vs. Kings, PRIME
• 11 a.m., NBA: Lakers vs. Suns, ABC
• 12 p.m., MLB: Dodgers vs. Angels, FSN
• 2 p.m., World Curling Championships, ESPN8
• 4 p.m., NASCAR: Pepsi 400, FOX

(And seriously, if you're confused whether that's midnight or noon, you really have no business reading a newspaper. :)

 

I prefer noon and midnight. That how folks talk.

 

Ditto

 

Point well taken, guys. Like all styles, I think if 1) you're consistent about it; and 2) you have some reasonable logic behind it, then it's acceptable -- even if two people disagree.

 

Well if the champ says so ...

Just playin', Buck. Heck, I voted for you twice!

 

sonuvabitch.

 

I can't believe we've gone eight pages without mentioning this: "quarterback position." I know it started on television, but I have seen it creep into print.

QUARTERBACK IS A &%$#@*' POSITION!!!!!!!!!!!

There's also the running back position, the safety position, the defensive side of the football, etc. I hear it mostly on radio, but, like I wrote, I've seen it creep into print. We must destroy it!
Everyone has mentioned my other pet peeves. The biggest is the two proper nouns smushed together. It always requires either a rewrite or an "on" in between. I went on a rant when my girlfriend said they were told at a seminar that it's now only one space after a period. One of her weirder co-workers ( a double spacer) said, "I'll have to have a talk with someone about that."
IT's ONE &%$#@' SPACE! I had to take out the extra space from youth sports reports and other things for years, and I'm just a little sensitive about that. Please forgive me.

 

Well, most usually say "12 noon" and "12 midnight", but that's another pet peeve of mine.

 

Breaking up a short quote is bad, but if it's a really long sentence I will do it if it's not clear who is talking.