Misused Words.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20204, 15 January 1934, Page 6

Misused Words.

TJACK JOURNALISTS are constantly clipping the coinage of pure speech under the mistaken notion that small words are better left out. and that no sentence should start with “ the ” or “ A.” Here is a sentence taken almost at random from a Christchurch paper: Periodical revival and extension at the instance of workers of orders made by the Arbitration Court fixing the minimum rate of wages for female workers is provided for. Such a sentence would never get past a sound sub-editor in respect either to the word order generally or the clipping of at least one necessary small word. There are words in which the article “a ” or “ the ” alters the meaning. One of these is “tribute.” We read that Kmgsford Smith paid tribute to his navigator and wireless operator. The Jewish nation paid tribute to Rome, and where the word tribute is used without the article or some qualifying pronoun, this is the sense in which it should always be read. Kingsford Smith might say “ I must pav mv tribute to the navigator.’ but unless his speech was reported in the first person it would be proper to say he paid “ a tnbute " touchstone.