Mr. Will has started a copy editing blog. As this blog
was originally intended to be something of the sort (before being
sidetracked by the miscellany that is my mind rationed out in
paragraph-sized bits), I thought I'd add some of my own recent gripes.
Please direct any criticism of my opinions to Will. It's all his
fault.
Newspaper writers to often lean on tired, stereotypical
language.
An annoyance to me is using the word “decline” to mean
“refuse” or “wouldn’t.” The usage will be familiar to anyone who has read
a news article about police or politicians.
“The detective declined
comment about the allegations.”
“The governor’s aides declined to
elaborate on his remarks.”
In both of these cases, “decline” is
used to soften the blow. There is something wanly elegant suggested, as if
a hack politician’s aides told the reporter: “Sorry, old chap, but I have
to decline to answer your frightfully on-point query.”
But people
don’t often talk that way, and they certainly don’t talk that way to nosy
reporters. The aides probably said “no comment,” or “are you out of your
bleepin’ mind? I’m not answering that!”
These people are refusing
our requests. They are turning down reporter’s questions. They don’t want
to tell readers what’s going on. Don’t let them hide behind the fussy verb
“decline.” Tell it like it is:
“The detective wouldn’t comment on
the allegation.”
“The governor’s aides refused to elaborate on his
remarks.”