4 ms·

Sometimes, writing is about more than just "actual information." If this kind of writing bothers you, you definitely don't want to subscribe to the New Yorker.

CWuestefeld 15y ago
Do they routinely add those goofy umlauts, too? In the English I was taught in school, we don't have such a character. Each requires the coöperation... even others coördinating a response Perhaps I'm over-sensitive, but this seems rather elitist. Now, combine this with the citation of "A same-sex couple and their three-year-old son..., certainly, belonged together." Why mention their genders? Either the writer has an unhealthy fixation on other people's sexual preferences, or, worse, thinks that the fact that they're gay entitles them to special consideration. Not good either way. I don't think I like their style.
- burgerbrain 15y ago
  http://www.kirkmahoney.com/blog/2008/09/coordinate-vs-co-ordinate-vs-coordinate/ http://www.kirkmahoney.com/blog/2008/09/coordinate-vs-co-ord... Contrary to popular belief, the English language has no official single governing body. Either are considered to be "correct".
  - CWuestefeld 15y ago
    Contrary to popular belief, the English language has no official single governing body. Nor did I claim that it did; linguistics is a descriptive science, not a prescriptive one. It describes the way people use the language. I've never seen English with umlauts, outside of a few heavy metal bands [1]. The link you provided would seem to agree with me, showing the non-accented spelling outnumbering this one by some 500:1. [1] https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Metal_umlaut https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Metal_umlaut
    - burgerbrain 15y ago
      "I've never seen English with umlauts" Nobody cares.
- adavies42 15y ago
  yes, the new yorker always uses tremata/diaereses where most people would use hyphens (if anything).
mberning 15y ago
I agree that there is some allowance for creative expression, but go back and re-read the first paragraph of that article. Does it add anything at all to the story? In my mind it doesn't. With so many other things in life vying for my time I'm loathe to read and digest such fluff. It reminds me of what I used to do in school to boost my word count on papers. I'm sure professional writers labor under similar circumstances at times.

CWuestefeld 15y ago

Do they routinely add those goofy umlauts, too? In the English I was taught in school, we don't have such a character. Each requires the coöperation... even others coördinating a response Perhaps I'm over-sensitive, but this seems rather elitist. Now, combine this with the citation of "A same-sex couple and their three-year-old son..., certainly, belonged together." Why mention their genders? Either the writer has an unhealthy fixation on other people's sexual preferences, or, worse, thinks that the fact that they're gay entitles them to special consideration. Not good either way. I don't think I like their style.

burgerbrain 15y ago
http://www.kirkmahoney.com/blog/2008/09/coordinate-vs-co-ordinate-vs-coordinate/ http://www.kirkmahoney.com/blog/2008/09/coordinate-vs-co-ord... Contrary to popular belief, the English language has no official single governing body. Either are considered to be "correct".
- CWuestefeld 15y ago
  Contrary to popular belief, the English language has no official single governing body. Nor did I claim that it did; linguistics is a descriptive science, not a prescriptive one. It describes the way people use the language. I've never seen English with umlauts, outside of a few heavy metal bands [1]. The link you provided would seem to agree with me, showing the non-accented spelling outnumbering this one by some 500:1. [1] https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Metal_umlaut https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Metal_umlaut
  - burgerbrain 15y ago
    "I've never seen English with umlauts" Nobody cares.
adavies42 15y ago
yes, the new yorker always uses tremata/diaereses where most people would use hyphens (if anything).

mberning 15y ago

I agree that there is some allowance for creative expression, but go back and re-read the first paragraph of that article. Does it add anything at all to the story? In my mind it doesn't. With so many other things in life vying for my time I'm loathe to read and digest such fluff. It reminds me of what I used to do in school to boost my word count on papers. I'm sure professional writers labor under similar circumstances at times.