I's easy to carp from the safety of one's own blog, far removed from the pressures of the newsroom (and the next word is "but"), BUT here's a phrase which does not do justice to the usually excellent International Herald Tribune (New York Times):
""Sarko l'Américain," as he is called, is considered the most pro-American French president in decades."
What exactly is meant by "in decades"? In 20 years? In 90 years? In this particular instance, the journlaist would have been better advised to come right out with it and say "... the most pro-American French president ever". I mean, there's not much competition, is there?
Another carp: a ten-year period, any ten-year period, is a decennary; a decade is a specific decennary: a ten-year period of a century.
ReplyDelete1980-1989, the "eighties", is a decennary, but not a decade.
1981-1990 is the ninth decade of the twentieth century, and also a decennary.
And so forth.
I have to admit I didn't know that!
ReplyDeleteHere are another two clichés in the making:
- Presidential hopeful
- Aging baby boomer. Surely we are all aging (baby boomers or not)?