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Pop Quiz -- Quick check of your common sense/writer abilities

by Jillian Slack
4 replies
Happy Wednesday, gentle Warriors!

Here's a little pop quiz to test your common sense and skills as a writer/editor.

Today a story appeared on People magazine's web site at:

Mel B & Kelly Monaco to Star in Topless Vegas Show - Kelly Monaco, Melanie Brown : People.com

There is an error in the first sentence of the story.

"Former Dancing with the Stars alumni Melanie Brown and Kelly Monaco are trading the ballroom for a Las Vegas stage."

Who knows how long they'll leave it up with the error. I emailed the editor to point it out. (Yes, I'm one of those kinds of people.)

Can you figure out what's wrong???

- Jill -
#abilities #check #common #pop #quick #quiz #sense or writer
  • Profile picture of the author getsmartt
    Alumni implies that they were former members of the of Dancing with the Stars. So you would not have former former members
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    Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker

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  • Profile picture of the author rosetrees
    Former alumni implies that they are no longer alumni!! Kind of implies they're dead!
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    On top of the "former alumni" gaffe, the show's title should be in quotes, and there should be commas separating the names from the rest of the sentence.


    Paul
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    Stop by Paul's Pub - my little hangout on Facebook.

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    • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
      Yea, it's just another example of tautology. You see it all the time - "revert back", "safe haven", "rise up" etc.

      I guess some people just have too many words on their hands.


      Frank
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