The Writing of News / A Handbook with Chapters on Newspaper Correspondence and Copy Reading - Charles G. Ross

The following list of “bromides” includes both trite and grandiose expressions which the news writer will do well to avoid and the copy reader to eliminate if they are passed on to him. The list is intended to be only suggestive of the evils of “bromidic” writing. It is far from exhaustive. Almost any newspaper man could add similar expressions which have come within his experience:

admiring friends
agent of death
ancestral domain
and many others
angry mob
arch culprit
avenging justice
battle-scarred veteran
beautiful and accomplished
bereaved widow
better half
beyond peradventure of a doubt
big mogul (locomotive)
bleeding, mangled form
blunt instrument
blushing bride
body of the deceased
bolt from a clear sky
bonds of matrimony
bosom of the briny deep
bourne from which no traveler returns
brand from the burning
breakneck speed
break the news gently
breathless silence
burden of bluecoats
burly negro
busy marts of trade
carnival of crime
catch of the season
caught like a rat in a trap
caught red-handed
certain party (for person)
challenge contradiction
checkered career
city bastile
city’s fair escutcheon
clutches of the law
commercial emporium
conspicuous by his absence
contracting parties (in marriage)
conventional black
cool as a cucumber
cowering poltroon
crisp ten-dollar bill
crowded to its utmost capacity
culminated in the nuptials
cynosure of all eyes
Dan Cupid’s dart
dastardly assassin
day of reckoning
delicious refreshments
demure miss
devoted slave
devouring element
diabolical outrage
divine (for preacher)
divine passion
dull, corroding care
dull, sickening thud
durance vile
dusky damsel
downy couch
ebbing life blood
effected an entrance
eked out a bare existence
elegant creation
entered a state of coma
evening repast
exigencies of the occasion
extended heartfelt sympathy
facile pen
failed to materialize
fair sex
fair women and brave men
fateful words
feast of reason
feathered songster
fell design
festive occasion
fever heat
few and far between
fiery steed
first fall of the beautiful
fleeting breath
foeman worthy of his steel
for it was none other than he
formulated a design
fragrant Havana
frenzied finance
furtively secreting
gathered to his fathers
general public
genial boniface
gilded youth
goes without saying
grand old party
gratitude melted into love
great beyond
grewsome spectacle
grim reaper
groaned under the weight of toothsome viands
hairbreadth escape
happy benedict
heartrending screams
hied himself
high dudgeon
high road to recovery
host of friends
human freight
hungry flames
hurled defiance
hymeneal altar
immaculate linen
in a clerical capacity
inclemency of the weather
inner circles of society
jury of his peers
kind and indulgent father
knights of the grip
large and enthusiastic audience
last but not least
late lamented
launched into eternity
leaden missile
light collation
lingering illness
lion of all social gatherings
little blind god
located his whereabouts
lodged in jail
long sleep (death)
lull before the storm
lurid flames
made good his escape
man of parts
maze of mystery
minions of the law
modicum of notoriety
mourned their loss
natty suit
neatly engraved invitations
neat sum
never in the history of
news leaked out
nice manners
nick of time
nipped in the bud
notorious crook and police character
old, old story (love)
oldest inhabitant
one fell swoop
one fine day
own inimitable way
pale as death
pangs of poverty
phials of his scorn
piercing shriek of anguish
pillar of the church
police dragnet
populace was up in arms
portals of his living tomb
portent of evil
prepossessing appearance
present incumbent
presided at the piano
prominent (of persons)
public prints
put in an appearance
quiet home wedding
raging torrent
rash act
recipient of handsome and costly presents
remains (for body)
rendered a widow
ripe old age
rising young barrister
rooted to the spot
rumors are rife
rushed post haste
sacred edifice
sad rites
sad tidings
scene beggared description
seemed to spring from thin air
serious but not necessarily fatal
set the town agog
shook like a leaf
shorn of his accustomed affability
shrouded in mystery
silver-tongued orator
sixteen summers (in giving age)
smoking revolver
snorting iron horse (locomotive)
snug income
sole topic of conversation
spread like wildfire
stepped into the breach
sterling worth and high promise
still evening air
stood aghast
storm king
stung with remorse
succulent bivalve
suicide (as a verb)
summoned medical aid
sustained an injury
swathed in bandages
sweet slumber
thickest of the fray
this mortal coil
tidy sum
tiny tots
tireless vigil
tonsorial parlor
took into custody
took the bit in his teeth
totally destroyed
to the bitter end
tried and true official
tripped the light fantastic
ubiquitous reporter
unbiased probe
under cover of the darkness
unfortunate victim
unique in the city’s annals
united in the bonds of matrimony
upholders of law and order
vale of tears
vanished as if the earth had swallowed him up
vengeance his portion
viewed the remains
vouches for the authenticity of
war to the knife
waxed eloquent
weaker sex
wedded bliss
wee sma’ hours
weird scene
well-known club man
white as a sheet
wildest excitement
with becoming grace
without fear of successful contradiction
witnesses duly sworn

INDEX

A
Abbreviation, marks used in, [6], [186];
care necessary in, [221]
Accuracy, importance of, [30];
in observation, [31];
in names, [33], [35], [179];
in street addresses, [34];
in spelling, [34];
effort to obtain, [36], [225];
in interview, [121];
in business stories, [133];
in correspondence, [151];
essential in copy reading, [175]
Active voice, [13], [204]
Add, how marked, [188]
Advance copy, [123];
notices by mail, [161];
held for release, [168]
Advertisement, head compared to, [194]
Ages, style in giving, [217]
Alliteration, in headlines, [202]
Anglo-Saxon, words preferred, [13], [103];
in heads, [196]
Asquith, the Right Honorable H. H., on prolixity, [211]
Assignment, defined, [2]
Associated Press, dispatch from, [70]
B
Bad taste, example, [27]
Baltimore Sun, story from the, [142]
Banner, in head writing, [209]
Beat, defined, [2];
measured by minutes, [134]
Bible, as model for news writer, [9], [61]
“Bohemians,” no longer tolerated, [191]
Boston Transcript, head from the, [197]
Box head, defined, [209]
Brisbane, Arthur, on newspaper work, [17]
Bromides in writing, [224];
list of, [226]
Bulletins, when to send, [157], [159], [166]
Business stories, care necessary in covering, [133]
C
Capital letters, how indicated, [186];
in heads, [206], [210]
Cheap slang, example, [39]
Chicago Evening Post, stories from the, [126], [139]
Chicago Inter-Ocean, editorial on news, [41]
Chicago Record-Herald, stories from the, [72], [76];
instructions to correspondents, [154], [220];
style, [177];
head from the, [199]
Chicago Tribune, order to correspondents, [157];
news specialties, [160]
Christian Science Monitor, editorial on news writing, [79]
Cincinnati Enquirer, sporting news, [160];
on promptness, [166];
style of heads, [202]
City editor, has “nose for news,” [43];
judge of story, [81];
valuing news, [103]
Classified, see Department
Clearness, necessity of, [9];
in heads, [196]
Climax, first in news story, [57], [79]
Collective nouns, [218]
Compression, in news writing, [80]
Conciseness, why desirable, [11];
in telegraph stories, [152]
Copy, defined, [1];
how to prepare, [4];
reading copy, [171];
specimen page of, [185];
“A Copy,” [189];
schedule, [192]
Copy readers, duties of, [3], [171];
qualifications of, [172];
organization of, [174];
must be vigilant, [178];
work under stress, [190]
Corrections, care necessary in making, [5]
Correspondents, functions of, [150];
pitfalls for, [154];
alertness appreciated, [159];
instructions to, [169];
how paid, [170]
Court reports, to be watched carefully, [179]
Crime news, question of ethics, [131]
D
Damaging statements, [19], [133], [155]
Death stories, choice of words in, [38];
examples, [38], [141], [142], [143];
points to cover in, [130]
Deck of head, defined, [201]
Definiteness, in news writing, [22];
examples, [94], [147];
in heads, [197]
Department stories, [48];
“slugs” given to, [182]
Dialect, use of, [23], [88], [219]
Don’ts for news writer, list of, [211]
Drop line in head, [207]
E
Editing, marks used in, [184];
page of edited copy, [185]
Editorial comment, not permitted in news, [20];
weakens story, [25]
End-mark, use of, [5], [187]
Expansion, in news writing, [80]
Ex parte statements, danger in, [156], [180]
F
Fairness, essential in story, [18]
Faking, not tolerated, [82], [153]
Feature stories, defined, [3];
examples, [29], [106], [108], [124], [127];
treatment of, [47], [98];
for entertainment, [101];
suggestions for, [111];
may be interview, [120];
sending by mail, [168]
Fictional method, in news writing, [71], [99]
Fine writing, not wanted, [10], [103], [224];
examples, [16], [38], [226]
Fire stories, general plan of, [79];
examples, [72], [77], [89], [95], [139], [142];
analysis of a story, [92];
points to cover in, [129]
Flippancy, to be avoided, [23], [88], [103]
Follow copy, [6], [176]
Follow stories, [183]
Force in writing, how obtained, [12]
Foreign words, [215]
Freak head, example, [209]
Fulton (Mo.) Gazette, editorial on country journalism, [17]
G
Generalities, to be avoided, [21]
Good taste, essential in news writing, [22];
illustrated, [109]
Gossip, beware of unfounded, [154]
Greeley, Horace, view of reporting, [23]
Guide line, in reading copy, [181]
H
Headlines (heads), defined, [3];
old style, [62];
written by copy readers, [175];
danger of libel in, [179], [194];
how designated, [183];
newspapers judged by, [193];
reproductions of, [195], [197], [199], [201], [204], [207], [209];
not mere labels, [196];
tense in, [198];
local in application, [202];
trite phrasing in, [204];
various styles of, [208]
Hope, Anthony, on style, [113]
Horrible details, to be shunned, [23]
Human-interest stories, defined, [47];
examples, [50], [72], [95], [109];
value of, [102];
prescription for, [103];
uncovering facts of, [104];
divergence in treatment of, [132];
in demand, [161]
Humor, example of, [49];
examples of unconscious, [191], [192]
I
Imperative form, in heads, [203]
Impersonality, in news writing, [20]
Inserts, in copy, [5], [187], [189]
Interview, defined, [113];
when incidental, [114];
as the story itself, [118];
first steps in getting, [118];
examples, [119], [120], [124]–[128]
Irwin, Will, on reporting, [1]
J
Journalism, personal era gone, [21];
daily problem of, [132];
sensational, [193]
Jump head, defined, [209]
K
Kansas City Star, departure from custom in the, [62], [71];
stories from the, [71], [72], [75], [76], [108];
style, [178];
heads, [200]
Knapp, George L., on newspaper English, [30]
L
Lead, introduction of story, [2];
method of writing, [57];
what it contains, [59];
styles vary, [62];
kinds to be avoided, [63];
police data in, [64];
names in, [65];
general rule for, [67];
examples, [70]–[78], [147], [148]
Lecky, W. E. H., on style, [79]
Legibility, how obtained, [5]
Libel, danger of, [20];
possible in names, [155], [179];
rules about, [178];
in headlines, [179], [194]
Lower case, defined, [210]
Lyman, Hart, on art of compression, [171]
M
Mail, how to send stories by, [168]
Make-up, defined, [4];
methods of, [84]
Mechanics, of story, [84], [123];
of head, [201]
Metaphor, use of, [15]
N
Names, must be watched, [6];
misspelling resented, [33];
in beginning story, [65];
in business stories, [133];
danger of libel in, [155], [179];
style in giving, [221]
News, often pruned, [23];
basic themes unchanging, [25];
values, [41];
how judged, [43];
sensational, [45];
plain, [46];
feature, [47], [98];
human-interest, [47], [102];
department, [48];
crime news, [131];
ages quickly, [134];
from out of town, [150];
sporting, [162];
told in heads, [194]
Newspaper, English often criticized, [8];
fascination of work, [20];
workshop unique, [25];
safeguards against error, [36];
its problem, [44];
women readers of, [46];
source of entertainment, [100];
handling crime news, [131];
telegraph service, [150];
wants facts only, [154];
variations in style, [176];
headlines important, [193]
New York Evening Post, editorial on style, [7]
New York Herald, instruction, [84]
New York Mail, story from the, [127]
New York Sun, style a model, [50];
stories from the, [50], [73], [99];
head from the, [204]
New York World, stories from the, [95], [109], [124], [146];
head from the, [209]
Norton, the Rev. William B., on slang, [224]
O
Observation, accuracy essential in, [31]
O’Malley, Frank Ward, story by, [50]
Originality, one secret of, [24];
story lacking in, [28];
example of, [106]
Outlook, comment by the, [55]
Overline, defined, [209]
P
Paragraphs, indentation of, [5];
length of, [184];
when run together, [186]
Pictures, with feature stories, [29];
in Sunday magazine, [105];
by mail, [162]
Pitfalls, for reporter, [154]
Place, as feature of story, [76]
Plain news story, [46]
Police stations, how named, [28]
Pronouns, care necessary in use of, [88]
Proofreading, not copy reading, [3]
Puns, on names, [23]
Pyramid, form of head, [208]
Q
Query, defined, [163];
blind, [165].
Questions-and-answers method, example, [127]
Questions, in heads, [203]
Quotation, as lead of story, examples, [73], [74];
preceding story, example, [75];
when undesirable, [116];
in beginning interview, examples, [119], [124], [126];
should not be slavish, [121];
indirect, [126];
in telegraphing, [170];
may be libelous, [180]
R
Reporter, his run or beat, [2];
viewpoint of, [17];
responsibility of, [19];
must observe keenly, [31];
place on newspaper, [42];
must not “editorialize,” [89];
idea of big story, [114];
power to do harm, [133];
seeking the right word, [224]
“Report of a Suicide,” [99]
Rewriting, [136];
examples, [138], [139]
Running head, [202]
Run-over head, [209]
S
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, editorial on newspaper “endowment,” [30];
story from the, [106];
instructions to correspondents, [167]
St. Louis Republic, editorial on reporting, [17];
on news values, [129];
rules about libel, [178]
St. Louis Star, on revolting stories, [213]
Scandal, perverted idea about, [161]
Schedule, kept by copy reader, [192]
Scoop, see Beat
Second-day stories, [134]
Sentences, preference given short, [14], [88];
in lead of story, [65];
avoid monotony in, [65], [220]
Signed story, exceptional, [20];
example, [127]
Simplicity, keynote of news writing, [9];
in writing of death, [39];
in lead, [61];
in head, [196];
Springfield (Mass.) Republican on, [214]
Slang, in news story, [10];
two kinds of, [22];
in head, [202]
Slug, name given story, [3], [181]
Space rates, for correspondents, [170]
Special correspondent, see Correspondent
Speeches, how covered, [122]
Sporting news, instructions regarding, [162]
Springfield (Mass.) Republican, on paragraphs, [184];
on short words, [214]
Story, defined, [1];
qualities of ideal, [18];
short feature, example, [29];
kinds of, [46];
plain, [46];
feature, [47], [98];
human-interest, [47], [102];
lead of, [57];
data from [100] typical stories, [68];
body of, [79];
mechanics of, [84], [123];
often pruned, [85], [164];
unlike novel, [87];
for entertainment, [101];
special types of, [129];
telegraph, [150];
marks in editing, [184];
adds and inserts, [188]
Street addresses, must be closely watched, [34]
Style, three qualities of, [9];
special rules of, [62], [175];
variations in, [177]
Sub-head, defined, [210]
Suicide stories, examples, [71], [72], [146];
motive a feature, [131];
often ignored, [132]
Sunday magazine stories, [48], [105]
Superlatives, use sparingly, [219]
Swiftness, essential in copy reading, [173], [177]
Symmetry, desired in heads, [205]
Symposium, defined, [124]
T
Technical terms, to be avoided, [10]
Telegraph news, boiled down, [141];
how gathered, [150];
skeletonizing, [152];
estimating value of, [153];
what not to send, [156];
what to send, [160];
sporting news, [162];
how to send, [163];
handling big story, [165];
instructions regarding, [169]
Telephone, used by correspondents, [163], [166]
Thoroughness, in covering story, [82]
Time, styles in giving, [39], [139], [217], [219];
as feature of story, [75];
“to-day” preferred, [134];
in heads, [202]
Trite expressions, in heads, [204];
list of, [226]
Trivialities, to be avoided, [26], [83], [153], [156]
Type, counting units in head, [206];
illustration of Gothic, [207];
upper and lower case, [210]
Typewriter, preferred for news writing, [4]
U
Upper case, defined, [210]
V
Verbosity, not permitted, [11], [185]
Viewpoint, must be unprejudiced, [17]
W
Washington Herald, editorial on newspaper English, [57]
Washington Times, editorial on news, [150]
Wedding stories, points to be covered in, [131]
Well-known, overworked, [217]
Whiteing, Richard, on daily journalism, [98]
Whitman, Walt, on simplicity of style, [193]

Transcriber’s Note:

The cover was created by the transcriber using elements from the original publication and has been placed in the public domain. No known textual or punctuation changes to the original publication have been made.