John McIntyre, whom James Wolcott called "the Dave Brubeck of the art and craft of copy editing," writes on language, editing, journalism, and random topics. Identifying his errors relieves him of the burden of omniscience. Write to jemcintyre@gmail.com, befriend at Facebook, or follow at Twitter: @johnemcintyre. His original "You Don't Say" blog at The Baltimore Sun ran from 2005 to 2021, and posts on it can sometimes be found at baltimoresun.com through Google searches.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
You may fire when ready
From an advertisement for an opening for an editor at a Christian publishing concern:
Knowledge of cannon law, Church history, & world history req'd.
There's a novel called 1635: The Cannon Law, but that's a deliberate pun; it is about a (fictional) attempt to conquer Rome in order to seize the Papacy for a Spanish-backed candidate (or is he?). The plot involves the apparent supersession of canon law by "cannon law", which is that he who has the cannons, wins.
Speaking of the need for editors, this morning's baltimoresun.com headline on the death of football player who had tried out with the Ravens game me pause: "Ravens hopeful Fein dies."
Seems mean. Wasn't cutting him from the squad punishment enough?
I'm reminded of a line from the 1955 movie "The Private War of Major Benson" (released in the year of my birth, this film is indeed an antiquity). The Major Benson of the title, played by Charlton Heston, has been assigned to the ROTC program at a Catholic boys' military school. Upon Major Benson's arrival, the headmistress nun informs him that the school's patron saint (I forget who this was) was "canonized in [whatever the date was]." Benson responds, "Oh, I'm sorry."
Oddly enough--or perhaps not really all that odd--is that fact that they both come from the same root: a long, straight reed, which shows up in the shape of the cannon and the "yardstick" of the canon.
Patricia: The plural of cannon is cannons, and has been since the noun was introduced into English in the early 16th century. Cannon is also used as a collective noun meaning 'ordnance, artillery in general'.
I leave it to others to explain the difference between cannons, howitzers, and mortars.
Well, they really do need that editor.
ReplyDeleteThere's a novel called 1635: The Cannon Law, but that's a deliberate pun; it is about a (fictional) attempt to conquer Rome in order to seize the Papacy for a Spanish-backed candidate (or is he?). The plot involves the apparent supersession of canon law by "cannon law", which is that he who has the cannons, wins.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone who's not a pirate these days know what cannon law would be? If so, I salute him.
ReplyDeleteI know what it is but I'm not familiar with its workings.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of the need for editors, this morning's baltimoresun.com headline on the death of football player who had tried out with the Ravens game me pause: "Ravens hopeful Fein dies."
ReplyDeleteSeems mean. Wasn't cutting him from the squad punishment enough?
Also, the plural of "canon" is canons. The plural of cannon is cannon.
ReplyDeleteI'm reminded of a line from the 1955 movie "The Private War of Major Benson" (released in the year of my birth, this film is indeed an antiquity). The Major Benson of the title, played by Charlton Heston, has been assigned to the ROTC program at a Catholic boys' military school. Upon Major Benson's arrival, the headmistress nun informs him that the school's patron saint (I forget who this was) was "canonized in [whatever the date was]." Benson responds, "Oh, I'm sorry."
ReplyDeleteOddly enough--or perhaps not really all that odd--is that fact that they both come from the same root: a long, straight reed, which shows up in the shape of the cannon and the "yardstick" of the canon.
ReplyDeleteI believe the actual quotation is" You may fire when you are ready, Gridley" (Or perhaps it was Ridley. Whoever he was, he was ready and he fired.)
ReplyDeletePatricia: The plural of cannon is cannons, and has been since the noun was introduced into English in the early 16th century. Cannon is also used as a collective noun meaning 'ordnance, artillery in general'.
ReplyDeleteI leave it to others to explain the difference between cannons, howitzers, and mortars.