Confusing Headline
Apr 20, 2017 15:49:42 #
I saw this headline from the Washington Post online, and I thought there was a grammatical error. Then I realized it was just English, with it's constant confusion over meaning and different parts of speech that different words can have. I wondered if there were a leader called "May" who wants elections. Was the comma put there by mistake, so the Britains may want (call for) an election? In that case the "s" at the end of "calls" would be an error. Maybe it meant that there would be a call for elections in May. After several readings, I finally figured it out.
When headlines are in all caps and devoid of punctuation, getting the meaning can be a challenge.
When headlines are in all caps and devoid of punctuation, getting the meaning can be a challenge.
Apr 20, 2017 16:03:44 #
If you know who Theresa May is, there is really no confusion.
Apr 20, 2017 16:08:25 #
rmorrison1116 wrote:
If you know who Theresa May is, there is really no confusion.
!!!Apr 20, 2017 16:10:41 #
Apr 20, 2017 16:11:02 #
rmorrison1116 wrote:
If you know who Theresa May is, there is really no confusion.
She's too new for me to know her name, especially with the wording of that headline, and "may" has too many uses in English. "Churchill," "Brown," and "Blair," I would know right away.
Apr 20, 2017 16:11:57 #
DeanS wrote:
It helps to be current on world affairs.
I avoid as much news as I possibly can. Too depressing. I prefer to laugh my day away on UHH.
Apr 20, 2017 16:23:15 #
Beowulf
Loc: Aquidneck Island, RI
In addition to the knowledge that May is the name of the British prime minister, the wording is actually a journalistic headline, in which the present tense is always used. EX: A typical news headline: Trump Calls for Program Update (even thought he might have called for it a day earlier in real time).
Apr 20, 2017 20:44:09 #
Apr 20, 2017 21:34:22 #
Watch how quickly a general election can be held. A politician still gets elected but in a mercifully short time.
Apr 20, 2017 22:05:50 #
One of my favorite headlines read like this: "70,000 BC Teachers Strike". It was about British Columbia teachers going on strike.
I rewrote the article to read "Wilma Flintstone led a large group of teachers carrying stone tablets and demanding higher wages."
I rewrote the article to read "Wilma Flintstone led a large group of teachers carrying stone tablets and demanding higher wages."
Apr 21, 2017 04:01:55 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I avoid as much news as I possibly can. Too depressing. I prefer to laugh my day away on UHH.
I agree entirely, too depressing.
Apr 21, 2017 06:17:16 #
Beowulf wrote:
In addition to the knowledge that May is the name of the British prime minister, the wording is actually a journalistic headline, in which the present tense is always used. EX: A typical news headline: Trump Calls for Program Update (even thought he might have called for it a day earlier in real time).
Excellent response. I had not been aware that journalistic headlines had a grammatical rule for tense. I thought I've seen past tense but that may be historical references.
I'll watch for this (learn something new everyday!)
Apr 21, 2017 06:54:57 #
That's not a comma - it's an apostrophe to indicate the possessive of the noun Britain. As several others have pointed out, if you had known who May was there would have been no confusion whatsoever. If, as you say, you try to avoid the news then I suggest not reading the Washington Post or any other newspaper since to the best of my knowledge they all seem to be full of news. 
Apr 21, 2017 07:03:31 #
I agree
rmorrison1116 wrote:
If you know who Theresa May is, there is really no confusion.
Apr 21, 2017 07:30:43 #
You will eventually know who May is.She is in the Thatcher mould.
Oh dear, am I confusing it again.
Oh dear, am I confusing it again.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.