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Pedants' corner

Headline writers

(7 Posts)
vampirequeen Wed 13-May-20 11:13:03

I don't usually post in Pedants' Corner but I'm feeling a bit antsy today as I haven't been able to go cycling or for a walk In fact I'm trapped in all day.

Sorry I digress.

Do headline writers ever read the articles they put the headline to? Today I read, 'Summer Solstice Cancelled'. Now I know humans are in lockdown but I didn't realise that the Earth was in lockdown too. It must be stationary otherwise how could you explain that it no longer seems to be orbiting the Sun. That's the only way the Summer Solstice could fail to take place. But no, on reading the article, it would appear the usual gathering at Stonehenge has been cancelled. Not the same thing at all.

FarNorth Wed 13-May-20 11:14:56

I suspect that headline writers often don't care what the article is about, at all.

sodapop Wed 13-May-20 12:42:20

I have been disappointed at times expecting a post to be a bit spicy from the headline. It turns out to be quite mundane smile

lovebeigecardigans1955 Wed 13-May-20 12:49:52

I expect they have to sum up the item as succinctly as possible.

I once saw a headline on the front of a woman's magazine which read (sorry to lower the tone grin. 'Men's whoppers' - I smiled, raised an eyebrow, nudged DH and asked him what he thought it meant. After he'd stopped laughing he said he reckoned it was about men's fibs!

phoenix Wed 13-May-20 12:52:38

sodapop I expect some were rather disappointed by my post that had the title "So I pulled my pants down".......

grandtanteJE65 Sun 17-May-20 11:31:29

Yes, but you see, these headlines did what a headline is meant to do: they made you read the article!

I agree they are ridiculous. I nearly died laughing about the cancelled summer solstice though.

sodapop Sun 17-May-20 13:05:58

What are you suggesting Phoenix ? smile

I can always rely on your posts to bring a smile to my face.