SF_Express
Active Member
- Joined
- Jan 9, 2003
- Messages
- 9,166
First of all, I 100 percent -- it'd be more if I could -- guarantee you that AP writers do not follow that AP pashage to the letter. Guarantee.
But I was thinking about this Monday night listening to the radio driving home after work. A bigshot with the Democratic National Committee was being interviewed. Smart guy, obviously, former congressman. And he was debating the guy doing the interviewing. A typical quote in the exchange:
"Well, the, the, the, the the thing about it is that Democrats are, are, are, well, are going to nominate the, the, the, the, the one, one, one, one candidate who articulates ..."
Etc.
Now, it wasn't nearly as offputting as he was saying it as it is to read. He wasn't stuttering. A lot of us repeat words in conversation.
But AP says it would try to have us write:
"Well, the ... thing about it is that Democrats are ... going to nominate the ... one ... candidate who articulates ..."
It's simply ridiculous. And even the most adamant posters on this thread who insist quotes should be exactly as uttered by the speaker don't write their quotes that way. I guarantee that, too. Unless somebody wants to correct me.
But I was thinking about this Monday night listening to the radio driving home after work. A bigshot with the Democratic National Committee was being interviewed. Smart guy, obviously, former congressman. And he was debating the guy doing the interviewing. A typical quote in the exchange:
"Well, the, the, the, the the thing about it is that Democrats are, are, are, well, are going to nominate the, the, the, the, the one, one, one, one candidate who articulates ..."
Etc.
Now, it wasn't nearly as offputting as he was saying it as it is to read. He wasn't stuttering. A lot of us repeat words in conversation.
But AP says it would try to have us write:
"Well, the ... thing about it is that Democrats are ... going to nominate the ... one ... candidate who articulates ..."
It's simply ridiculous. And even the most adamant posters on this thread who insist quotes should be exactly as uttered by the speaker don't write their quotes that way. I guarantee that, too. Unless somebody wants to correct me.