Comments on: An Exercise in Ambiguity

By: Jon

Jon — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:06:16 +0000

“I clicked on the confusing headline to read the story. I found my answer in the lead”

Given that the headline is intended to make you read further, I think it worked in this case.

It’s a ‘trick’ employed by the BBC News website fairly frequently – usually a nicely ambiguous headline that suggests a story far more interesting than is actually the case.

By: PreciseEdit

PreciseEdit — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 15:18:54 +0000

This headline provides a good example of why it is important to read what you write from the perspective of the audience. Intended meanings are rarely ambiguous to the writer.

By: cmdweb

cmdweb — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:47:08 +0000

Hence the use of Simplified Technical English, a standard used by many technical writers particularly in the aero industry. It limits the words that can be used and the way they can be used to avoid just such ambiguities, especially useful for non-native English speakers.
In terms of ambiguities, it’s radio newsreaders that I find are the most ambiguous these days.

By: b2j2

b2j2 — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:55:34 +0000

Headlines are often (maybe almost always) written by someone other than the reporter. Sometimes one might wonder if the headline writer read the article.

I’ve had some success in suggesting a short description.

By: Craig

Craig — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:20:14 +0000

Thanks, Maeve! Just for the sake of clarity and correct conjugation, I try to avoid phrasal verbs. As you noticed, they’re easily misunderstood.