Pedants' Paradise

[oddoneout]

It would seem that the local rag's TV listings have decided that turtles have preferred pronouns as well.

Friday the turtle is, apparently, a troublesome crittur. Thankfully they have keeper Xav to keep them on the straight and narrow...

At first reading I assumed "they" referred to the aquarium team, but the rest of the sentence knocked that one on the head. What seems odd to me is that I think it unlikely the aquarium doesn't know whether the turtle is male or female so why opt for they and them?

[Sir Velo]

It would seem that the local rag's TV listings have decided that turtles have preferred pronouns as well.

At first reading I assumed "they" referred to the aquarium team, but the rest of the sentence knocked that one on the head. What seems odd to me is that I think it unlikely the aquarium doesn't know whether the turtle is male or female so why opt for they and them?

Presumably because they haven't asked it with which gender it identifies.

[Pulcinella]

Presumably because they haven't asked it with which gender it identifies.

So surely until they find out, it could be an it?

[Serial_Apologist]

So surely until they find out, it could be an it?

You actually mean he, she, or they could be an it!

[Pulcinella]

Guardian website headline today:

Can UK’s ‘jet zero’ hopes take off with a plane fuelled by used-cooking oil?

Why would anyone put a hyphen there?

[smittims]

Dunno, but I can explain how anyone would put a hyphen there. It happens if they have my typing skills.

[french frank]

Hyphen? I see no hyphen

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/26/can-uks-jet-zero-hopes-take-off-with-a-plane-fuelled-by-used-cooking-oil

Someone else clearly mentioned it, though I would expect an explanatory note at the bottom: "The headline has been edited to remove the inadvertant inclusion of a hyphen between the words 'used' and 'cooking'.

[Pulcinella]

Hyphen? I see no hyphen

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/nov/26/can-uks-jet-zero-hopes-take-off-with-a-plane-fuelled-by-used-cooking-oil

Someone else clearly mentioned it, though I would expect an explanatory note at the bottom: "The headline has been edited to remove the inadvertant inclusion of a hyphen between the words 'used' and 'cooking'.

Someone might just monitor their site (or, as you imply, be there to correct/respond to comments), unlike The Times, which can stay uncorrected all day (duplicated paragraphs being a current flaw).

[Old Grumpy]

In our local village store:

2023 Beaujolai's Nouveau

[french frank]

In our local store:

2023 Beaujolai's Nouveau

Good old Beaujolai, say I!

[kernelbogey]

Un jolie lai....

[vinteuil]

from BBC news website :

" Hackney London Borough Council recruits hate crime champions"

I don't think it means what it appears to mean...

[french frank]

from BBC news website :

" Hackney London Borough Council recruits hate crime champions"

I don't think it means what it appears to mean...

That's excellent.

[Padraig]

CEO of BBC News

Changes to Newsnight were a chance to 'adapt and evolve the Newsnight offer.'

[french frank]

CEO of BBC News

Changes to Newsnight were a chance to 'adapt and evolve the Newsnight offer.'

Makes a change from 'Adapt or die'.