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Pedants' corner

Am i right or the BBC Journalist?

8 replies

PortBlacksandResident · 18/05/2008 20:50

Floods (again) in our area. BBC journalist is at the local heritage railway line which has been badly damaged by the floods and closed just before the local drama group are due to put on a performance.

The BBC journalist then laughs smugly and says "Ironically the play was due to be the Tempest".

Was this the correct thing to say as it's bugged me. I can see where he's coming from but shouldn't he have said "Aptly" instead of Ironically?

What do you Pedant's of higher intelligence think??

OP posts:
RustyBear · 18/05/2008 20:52

I think you're right - journalists never seem to know how to use ironically.

Am a little at the thought of the Tempest staged on a steam train - presumably a modern production?

PortBlacksandResident · 18/05/2008 20:53

LOL - yes that's one i wouldn't have been too keen to see either.

OP posts:
beaniesteve · 18/05/2008 20:54

Isn't the irony in the fact that they were unable to put the play on because of the floods?

JaneHH · 18/05/2008 21:12

I think you'd probably object to the whole of Alanis Morrisette's song (called, I think, Ironic...). The lyrics go something like "ironic... like rain on your wedding day" and other such ironic trials of life

Not sure about the pedantry rules here, but wouldn't there have been outrage if he/she had said "aptly" though?! Even if incorrect (?), "ironically" does pervey a slight smidgeon of sympathy in this case...!

tissy · 18/05/2008 21:13

Pedants without the apostrophe, please!

JaneHH · 18/05/2008 21:14

PS another thing Am VERY much hoping PBsR that your spelling of "Pedant's" was meant in an ironic fashion

PPS and now ohmigod I realise I've said "pervey" which is a) incorrectly spelt and b) a complete malapropism. I meant "convey".

JaneHH · 18/05/2008 21:15

great pedants think alike

tissy · 18/05/2008 21:21
Grin
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