Words That Sportswriters Use That Make Me Cringe

"workmanlike" to mean methodical or plodding instead of - as it really means - done with the care and skill of a workman or artisan.

 

At the first large paper I worked with long ago, the job classification for entry-level desk hires was "journeyman copy editor I," and if you did well you'd be promoted to "journeyman copy editor II" after a few years. Sometimes a more experienced person was hired at "journeyman II." The next step up was copy desk chief. I didn't stay long enough to get past "journeyman I" status.

 

So I'm clear, a whippet is a dog, a whip-it is a nitrous oxide cartridge, right?

 

One farts, the other doesn't.