Hall County: Foul House Members and Sour State Senators?

I've got to tell you something on me. I'd better give you a bit of background first. I cut my teeth as a reporter back in the dark ages on the Atlanta Constitution, under a tough old City Editor named Carlton Thomas who answered to an even tougher one named Luke Greene. These were men from the old school of journalism, and they had certain rules that were never, never broken. First, a reporter did not mis-spell any word, and especially a name. Second, a reporter did not use any disparaging adjective about any person unless that description could be proved. And finally, no matter how tight the deadline, every reporter was responsible for proofing his own copy before it was turned over to the copy desk. There were other rules, but these make the point.

Now I was writing a thing the other day bemoaning the fact that Governor Barnes and his Democrat-controlled legislature had done Hall County in with their redistricting. I was making sure the spelling of gerrymander was correct, and dodging titles like "King Roy". When I got through I started to print the copy out without proofing it ... but I decided I'd better at least look it over before I let it go.

Down in the copy I had written a sentence explaining that, in the legislature come 2003, Hall County will share four House members with surrounding counties, and we will share four State Senators with other counties. Four House members, and four State Senators. Well, I had missed on the word four, by getting an 1 where the r ought to go, giving us foul. And on the second four, the one for Senators, I had typed in an s where the f should have been, giving us sour. (by the way, for those of you who have delegated your spelling to spellcheck, both foul and sour are words so they were not red-lined).

So, here I am with a sentence that says at the beginning of 2003 Hall County will have foul House Members and Sour State Senators. Now, you talk about a temptation NOT to correct something...

This is Gordon Sawyer, and may the wind always be at your back.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/9/190227