They still learn grammar, don’t they?

June 30, 2009
by pied type

grammarIt isn’t difficult for me to find something cringe-worthy on cable news. All I have to do is turn on the TV and wait five minutes.

This afternoon it was MSNBC’s David Shuster pronouncing sword with an audible w. And not just once but three or four times in rapid succession, so I know I wasn’t misunderstanding. The man doesn’t know the w in sword is silent! It’s pronounced “sord.” Who doesn’t know that!?

Of course now that he’s a big daytime TV anchor, nobody’s going to pssst in his ear and correct him. Anchors don’t get to be anchors without having a command of the language, right?

Sigh. It’s not my fight anymore. I’m retired. I’m no longer being paid to correct other people’s use and abuse of the language. I just wish I could stop cringing and being so OCD when the abuse continues. Old habits die hard — apparently along with old educations.

3 Responses leave one →
  1. June 30, 2009

    That kind of stuff just ruffles my feathers to no end.
    Speak the language as it’s meant to be spoken.
    Any link to a video?
    Love to see it . . .
    ~m
    ________
    Nope, no video. He was just talking about some video of a sumarai slicing baseballs that were pitched to him, and the “swword” thing started. I know my blood pressure was through the roof by the time he finished talking. Arghh!!!

  2. June 30, 2009

    btw- wouldn’t they spell it ‘Grammer’? :mrgreen:
    ~m
    __________
    No doubt.

  3. February 22, 2010

    There’s never any excuse. Fight the good fight and e-mail them!
    ___________
    I have sent and do send e-mail. Most of the major networks probably are familiar now with “that witch in Denver.” No doubt it’s just another futile cry in the wilderness, but it lets me blow off steam.

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