#108

Sunday Times, June 4, 2017

Two infelicities for the price of one. ‘To only buy’ is a split infinitive and while opinions differ about how important this is, here it is ugly and unnecessary. ‘Only’ should be as close as possible to the word or phrase to which it refers, in this case ‘the best’. So this should read:

. . . this show wants consumers to buy only the best.

See ‘split infinitive’ and ‘only’ in

http://stylematters.margaretashworth.com/grammar/

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I cannot stress strongly enough that it takes years of experience to make a good sub-editor. When I was a junior sub, almost everyone else in the department was older and wiser, and the benefit of their experience was passed down to me. A chief sub would often point out how things could be improved. These days most older subs have been dispensed with and there is no one to teach or mentor the younger ones. Staffs have been so reduced that no one has time to guide anyone else.

This clinic is an attempt to pass on my experience using real examples. I would love to receive items from others as I do not read every paper every day. I will add new entries as I come across them.