24Sep

Maybe I have my own show, but it’s like ‘The Truman Show’

I wonder if I am one of thousands, maybe millions, who have had this thought. Isn’t that the point, though? Wondering if the joke’s on us?

23Sep

Climbed a mountain and I turned around

My health and ADHD and late-night work schedule being what they are, checking things off my to-do list can be challenging.

22Sep

Banned Books Week begins with the appropriate mug for tonight’s editing shift

There is only one mug I can drink from while I edit this afternoon and tonight.

22Sep

It’s not the people who are wrong that worry me the most

I love that listen and silent are spelled with the same six letters.

21Sep

More power to her, I say

Here’s a short one. “Get it, girl,” I said out loud. I don’t know if that’s good or bad. But go where you are wanted, I say.

20Sep

Thinking about when someone writes ‘individual’ when ‘person’ would do just fine

Published September 20, 2024

When I read or hear “individual” in journalism, as in “police described the individual” a certain way, I just assume police language is being parroted reflexively by reporters so conditioned to doing so that they don’t realize it.

I prefer “person” to “individual” in much the same way I prefer “buy” to “purchase,” “find” to “locate,” “use” to “utilize” and other similar examples when the plain-language version would do. It’s my educated guess that people like to use the fancy word to make things sound more important. A predawn vertical insertion is still an invasion, unless it’s a practice invasion.

What are your thoughts when you see “individual” when “person” would be fine? What are your thoughts after reading this? Do you think, “Wow, Carly is an individual in need of a life”?

A version of this post first appeared on LinkedIn. Editing tips here are mine unless noted.

Image of blocks spelling journalism by Polarpx via Shutterstock.