Comments on all things journalism and answers to questions from readers about news coverage and operations at the Tracy Press.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Crimes of Grammar

Those of us who work with words for a living — and maybe others? — noticed this misplaced modifier in the program for Monday's Veterans Day program in Tracy. (It was in all-caps, but I'll spare you that.)

"Sergant First Class Valentino Vaughn, U.S. Army unveiling of the name of SFC Tung M. Nguyen, U.S. Army, killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom by the members of the Tracy City Council."

Sergeant is misspelled, but the real crime here is that the members of the Tracy City Council appear to have killed someone during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

But no. The City Council members merely unveiled the name on the Tracy War Memorial.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Spelling champs!

Friday's Tracy Unified School District's spelling bee for seventh- through ninth-graders ended p with these four winners, who will go on to the San Joaquin Spelling Bee: Caitlin Dong (left), Hector Sanchez, Upinderpreet Gill and Arashpreet Gill. Photo by Diane Dong

To read my Editor's Notes column about being a judge, go here.