Good, Bad, and Ugly
Reader reaction to Reuters news
Spelling of city’s name…
Ukraine’s Tymoshenko charged with tax evasion
Hi. I just wanted to let you know that the capital of Ukraine is misspelled in your article.
You refer to Ukraine’s capital city as ‘Kiev.’ I would like to point out that this is an obsolete version of the name, which was abandoned by Ukraine after its declaration of independence in 1991, and replaced by the name ‘Kyiv.’
There are many previous cases where countries have made a decision to change names, and the media have adapted.
For example, in 1996 India officially changed the name of the city Bombay to Mumbai. This is also the case with the capital of China, Beijing, formerly known as Peking, and the country of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.
So my question is: why should the name of Ukraine’s capital city be an exception?
I.T.
What a difference an A makes
Obama says U.S. is still a AAA country
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Monday blamed a downgrade in the United States’ credit rating on political gridlock in Washington and said he would offer some recommendations on how to reduce federal deficits.
TI’m teaching English in Thailand… This header should say: Obama says U.S. is still an AAA country.
Tony
Our style is to use a instead of an, on the grounds that most people read it as “triple A” rather than saying three separate letter As.
You do have a valid argument, of course, and S&P’s own Website goes the other way, saying, “A bank with an ‘AAA’ survivability assessment…” GBU Editor
The Standard and Poor’s building is seen in New York, August 8, 2011. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
You Both Make Excellent Points And Are Both Absolutely Right.
Singular or plural?
Data points to strengthening growth, jobs
Data points to?
Duh!
Allison
Yes, I know, this is a plural noun.
The Reuters style guide recognizes that, but adds: “treat as if it were singular, e.g. The data was corrupted.”
By contrast, the AP’s style book advises reporters to treat data as a plural noun in most cases: GBU Editor
—Usage note
Data is a plural of datum, which is originally a Latin noun meaning “something given.” Today, data is used in English both as a plural noun meaning “facts or pieces of information” ( These data are described more fully elsewhere ) and as a singular mass noun meaning “information”: Not much data is available on flood control in Brazil.
The Random House Dictionary
We should get this right
Gold set to extend post-Fed gains; peak in 2011: Reuter’s poll
In this headline I believe the name of your organization is spelled incorrectly by yourselves – with an apostrophe.
Ken
Indeed. Pretty embarrassing. We fixed it: GBU Editor
A 999.9 fine gold 100 troy ounce Engelhard gold bar is seen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York, November 9, 2010. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton
Style on the Koran…
Obama says planned Koran burning is boosting Qaeda
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama warned on Thursday that a Florida pastor’s plan to burn copies of the Koran is being used as an al Qaeda recruitment tool and he urged the minister to reconsider the decision.
Please Use the Correct Spellings Of Muslims Holy Book , Use “QURAN” Not Koran.It Would Be Very Appreciative If This Correction has been made in all your digital and print versions.
H.N.
There is no single “correct” transliteration of words for use in English. We frequently review our style on commonly used words.
Our style on the book is Koran, which is also used by many Western news organizations, among them the Associated Press, New York Times, CNN, etc. GBU Editor
Pakistani Christians shout slogans as they burn the effigy of Pastor Terry Jones during a protest in Multan September 9, 2010. About a hundred activists gathered on Thursday to protest against plans by Jones, an obscure U.S. Protestant church leader, to burn the Koran on the anniversary of the September 11 attacks. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza
Why Is Every First Letter Of Each Word Capitalized In The Request? Does It Deliver A Point More Eloquently Or Forcefully?
Kiev vs. Kyiv…
Ukraine to borrow abroad to pay for April T-bills
KIEV, Feb 15 (Reuters) – Ukraine will try to borrow abroad soon in order to meet a hefty bill for domestic debt due in April, deputy finance minister Andriy Kravets said on Monday, indicating however that the loan would be not be public.
An observation, not a question. Will you please stop spelling Kyiv by the old transliteration from Russian.
Ukrainian is the official language of Ukraine, not Russian.
The National Geographic and US State Department switched well over a year ago to the proper spelling of my nation’s capital — Kyiv.
Jarko
I think your reply to the above comment is rather rude. A very sensitive history follows the issue of spelling Ukraine’s capital city Kyiv. After being under Russia and Soviet Union for such a long time, we, Ukrainian citizens, are extremely happy to finally be our own bosses. That is why we try to get rid of the negative sentiments left behind from the Russian rule such as the russified spelling of Kyiv as Kiev. The new spelling correctly reflects the original pronunciation and as I mentioned above reflects nation’s independence. Let’s be honest. English speakers do not really care the way a foreign city is spelled, either way it can be understood. So why not respect the people who actually do care?
Where is Los Angeles?
Singer Justin Timberlake (L) and actor Bradley Cooper wait to answer the phone during the “Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit For Earthquake Relief” telethon in this handout photo provided by MTV on January 22, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. REUTERS/Jeff Kravitz/MTV Hope for Haiti Now/Handout
Regarding the Haiti benefit, I’m curious as to why you refer to Los Angeles as Los Angeles, California yet you refer to New York City, New York as simply New York and London, England as simply London?
I am offended at the notion that you feel people the world over are too stupid to know that Los Angeles is in California.
I absolutely hate the inference. Thank you for ruining my quick glimpse into what is otherwise a heartwarming story in relief of a people so desperate for help.
As a lifelong Angeleno, I tell you that I despise your coverage and your insinuation of our inferiority to those places you hold in such high regard as those other cities and that I will do everything I can to further desist from accessing any of your coverage.
Signing off from Los Angeles, California,
J.M. It is our style to let Los Angeles stand alone, without California, but now and then when you move the volume of photos we did of that event, it slips in.
Partner or spouse?
Obamas in, reality stars out in desirable neighbors poll
The U.S. first family were followed by TV chat show host Ellen DeGeneres and her partner Portia de Rossi, who tied with Republican Sarah Palin, in the poll by online real estate marketplace Zillow.com.
I found your article regarding the best/worst celeb neighbors, featured in Yahoo tv today, to be an interesting reflection on popular opinions.
I was disappointed, however, to see Portia deRossi noted as Ellen DeGeneres’ “partner.” She is, in fact, her wife. By not recognizing her as such, Reuters continues the not-so-subtle discrimination against gays and lesbians and their right to enter into marriage.
Juliann S.
Several readers objected to our use of the word “partner.” It would have been appropriate to use “spouse” or “wife” instead: GBU Editor Talk show host and nominee Ellen Degeneres (R) and actress Portia de Rossi wait for the show to start at the 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, August 30, 2009. REUTERS/Danny Moloshok
Either choice is just that, a choice, founded on an opinion. The marriage is not universally recognized, and with legitimate reason. If Reuters wants to take an editorial stance, that’s within its editors’ rights.
No longer Western?
Tsunami smashes Pacific islands, over 100 feared dead
SYDNEY, Sept 30 (Reuters) – A series of tsunamis smashed into the Pacific island nations of American and Western Samoa killing possibly more than 100 people, some washed out to sea, destroying villages and injuring hundreds, officials said on Wednesday.
Several of your articles about the tsunami refer to “Western Samoa.”
This name is no longer in use. The correct name of the nation is simply “Samoa.” Your own FACTBOX page (linked from the main story) even mentions this!
Greg
It seems something of a mystery why our style during this running saga has switched back and forth between Samoa and Western Samoa for stories, photo captions and graphics. The style is under review, and we will settle on one. Watch this space: GBU Editor
A dog walks past a propped up road sign in the tsunami-damaged village of Vaigalu on the southern coast of Western Samoa September 30, 2009. REUTERS/Tim Wimborne
I would like to see “Boys in the Band” and also “September Affair” with Joan Fontaine and Joseph Cotten.
-
Resident Mediafile Expert
-
