Monday, May 23, 2011

Ledes -- They Still Had The Wedding?

This lede said something that technically wasn't true:

Just fifteen minutes before his wedding, a man was killed in a car accident this morning.

What is technically untrue is this: you said it was fifteen minutes before the wedding. Which implies the wedding took place. Which I assume it didn't, since the groom was dead.

What you meant to say was this (italics mine):

Just fifteen minutes before he was to wed, a man was killed in a car accident this morning.

Watch your words. Be precise and use exactly the words you mean to use. Be sure you say what you mean, and mean what you say.

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