Before you pun, fill out this form
You Don’t Say salutes Steve Merelman, the front-page editor at the News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., who came up with this inspired form to evaluate puns and wordplay — attached as a .pdf:
If you do not have a cranky old slotman like me to protect you from yourself, consider using the form on your own on the honor system.
Andy Bechtel at The Editor’s Desk was also impressed.
Comments
I never knew, until I read this, that pun is also a verb. I think I'll pun today.
Posted by: Bucky | February 5, 2009 9:50 AM
Overheard during an intramural football game at the Comedy Boot Camp: "What do you do now Mister?" "Drop back ten yards and pun sir."
Posted by: Retired in Elkridge | February 5, 2009 3:52 PM
I just got shot down by the slot man and the rest of the desk when I resisted a suggestion for a headline that violated the last requirement on the form, namely that it was wordplay based on a proper name. Not very good wordplay either. Sigh.
Posted by: Brian | February 10, 2009 7:45 PM
The journalisic enthusiasm for adolescent puns on people's names is apparently inexhaustilble.
The most that a responsible copy editor can do is to raise an objection every time.
Posted by: John McIntyre | February 10, 2009 8:43 PM