Friday, October 17, 2008

While they last

From The Evening Times, October 17, 2008, regarding a Halloween party:

This should be a variety of costumes, live music, dancing, finger foods and T-shirts while they last.


Ouch. You'd thing it would hurt to let your participle just dangle like that. Or perhaps they're stating the obvious for the not-so-bright reader: There will be a variety of costumes, live music, dancing, finger foods, and t-shirts while they last. After that, there will be none. So arrive early!

Seriously, though. I don't expect Wolfe- or Thompson- or Woodward-type quality from my modest hometown paper, but damn. Grammar? Spelling? Correct word usage? Or maybe just some type of editorial process? There's no evidence of one.

No comments: