One phrase written in a short Associated Press item "Clinton attacks Obama's record," which ran in my morning newspaper The Philadelphia Inquirer, caught my eye due to its pet peeve factor.
It's one of those words or phrases that becomes commonly used ad nauseum in reporting. This one often describes partial birth abortion, a.k.a. intact dilation or extraction.
There's sarcasm in its tone. linguistics
Here's a sentence from the AP story with my pet peeve phrase BOLDLY noted:
Among other votes, Obama voted "present" in 1997 on two bills that would have outlawed SO-CALLED partial-birth abortion and two 2001 bills on parental notification of minors seeking abortions.
Interestingly, when this same AP story ran in the San Jose Mercury News, here, note the improved, and accurate, use of phraseology:
Obama voted "present" in 1997 on two bills that would have outlawed the procedure THAT SOME CALL partial-birth abortion and on two 2001 bills related to parental notification of minors seeking abortions.
Too bad that I don't live in San Jose.
(c) 2007 Marybeth T. Hagan
Crossposting with http://www.mothermayibeborn.com
I "so-called" agree :-). Please see something that "peeves" me, and check out my article "...Except in cases of rape or incest" at www.prolifeprofessionals.blogspot.com. I would be curious to hear your thoughts! Thanks!
i don't think the "so-called" thing is so bad. i mean "partial birth" isn't a medical term, so i guess it doesn't bother to note that it's colloquial or informal. anyway, i really was glad to see the other comment about "except in cases of rape or incest". i've always thought this was a ridiculous exception. if you're against abortion because you believe it kills a baby, then incest or rape are irrelevant; you have to be against all abortions. which is of course why the position is ultimately too simple. so i totally agree with that commenter.