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Snappy - but confusing
by loiswakeman @ 12 Jun. 2007 - 17:10:28

Headline writers have a difficult tightrope to walk. Their words must be short and to the point, but nevertheless convey the right message. The Telegraph didn't get it quite right today, with:

"Police shoot to kill first woman"

- which immediately conjures up poor Eve clutching her bloodstained figleaf in Eden.

You can read the whole article here. What they actually mean, of course, is that this is the first woman - rather than man - who has been the subject (one can hardly say victim) of a 'shoot to kill' policy.

3 comments | Permalink | Recommend this post
Tags: headline, media, newspaper, telegraph,

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govindangovindan [Member]
14/06/07 @ 07:18

Isn't it better than " Four armed men rob bank" making people think of an invasion by aliens ?

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loiswakemanloiswakeman [Member]
http://lois.co.uk
15/06/07 @ 11:37

Indeed it is :-)

Some anti-hyphens would come in handy , if they existed. I.e. the opposite of 'four-armed'.

|
[Visitor]

15/06/07 @ 11:27

Could have construed 'first woman' as being Cherie Blair....

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