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New York Times Bans Use of Word "Tweet"

An anonymous reader writes "New York Times standards editor Phil Corbett has had enough of his journalists' sloppy writing. Their offense? Using the 'inherently silly' word 'tweet' 18 times in the last month. In an internal memo obtained by theawl.com, he orders his writers to use alternatives, such as '"use Twitter" ... or "a Twitter update."' He admits that ' ... new technology terms sprout and spread faster than ever. And we don't want to seem paleolithic. But we favor established usage and ordinary words ...' After all, he points out, ' ... another service may elbow Twitter aside next year, and "tweet" may fade into oblivion.' Of course, it is also possible that social media sites will elbow paleolithic media into oblivion, and Mr. Corbett will no longer have to worry about word use." While this sounds like it could as well be an Onion story, the memo is being widely reported.

4 of 426 comments (clear)

  1. Awesome by Dmritard96 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    It's about time.

  2. Re:News flash by HornWumpus · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Twits.

    --
    John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  3. Get with it man by NovaWolf · · Score: 0, Redundant

    The NYT Editor needs to get into the 21st century. A post to Twitter is a "Tweet".

  4. I favor the use of the term 'twit' by pizza_milkshake · · Score: 0, Redundant

    for its users, though.