The Mainstream Media is So Much Better Than Bloggers
Because, you know, they have editors. To fact-check and, you know, do cursory checks for the correctness of grammar on things like, say, front-page headlines on CNN.com.
Now, I'm sure as hell no CNN copy-editor, but it is my deeply held belief that this particular phrase should read: "Britney Spears' melon out-hypes Elvis Presley's." Rather than "Britney Spear's melon out hypes Elvis Presley's." So, you know, not just one major grammatical misstep in seven words, but two. Although I suppose it is possible that someone working at CNN actually thinks her name is Britney Spear. I think the clear lesson here is that bloggers should not be taken seriously.
Anywho, the article linked below that catastrophe is pretty interesting. Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson has opted not to make fun of Britney for at least one night. "For me, comedy should have a certain amount of joy in it," he said. "It should be about attacking the powerful -- the politicians, the Trumps, the blowhards -- going after them. We shouldn't be attacking the vulnerable ... Now I'm not saying Britney is alcoholic, I don't know what she is -- alcoholic or not -- but she clearly needs help."
Now, I'm sure as hell no CNN copy-editor, but it is my deeply held belief that this particular phrase should read: "Britney Spears' melon out-hypes Elvis Presley's." Rather than "Britney Spear's melon out hypes Elvis Presley's." So, you know, not just one major grammatical misstep in seven words, but two. Although I suppose it is possible that someone working at CNN actually thinks her name is Britney Spear. I think the clear lesson here is that bloggers should not be taken seriously.
Anywho, the article linked below that catastrophe is pretty interesting. Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson has opted not to make fun of Britney for at least one night. "For me, comedy should have a certain amount of joy in it," he said. "It should be about attacking the powerful -- the politicians, the Trumps, the blowhards -- going after them. We shouldn't be attacking the vulnerable ... Now I'm not saying Britney is alcoholic, I don't know what she is -- alcoholic or not -- but she clearly needs help."
actually, you're wrong too. It should be
Britney Spears's melon out-hypes Elvis Presley's.
It's interesting that you should mention that, Jeff, because it's a real point of contention among grammarians. Many style manuals indicate that you should make this decision based on the pronunciation of the word -- you add 's if you'd actually form a new syllable to pronounce the possessive, as in "Morris's," or "Thomas's" but otherwise you skip the s, as in "Hastings'" or "Spears'". In general, mainstream print media tends to agree with me, but your point is well taken.
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