radio style

Apostrophe

is going the way of the skylark, but should still be treasured. It has disappeared from Regents Park, Kings Road, Barclays, but should be protected in Lord's (the cricket ground). It is not needed in MPs, QCs; and is unwanted in the possessive "its". But it is essential in place of the missing letter in "it's". Thus: "It's a damn shame that its (the skylark's) future is so uncertain".


Black box
"The black box flight recorder" is permissible. "Black box" on its own is not. Many of them are in fact orange.

Sports people
it makes more sense to continue to refer to them by surname when they stray beyond the sporting arena.

BBC radio Style Guide via making light

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Comments: radio style

"exhortations in the style guide had no effect on the number of mistakes; the level of mistakes was not affected by exhortations in the style guide; we hope to effect a change in this"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/styleguide/page/0,5817,184844,00.html
Posted by Kent at January 31, 2006 06:48 AM

That's very effecting, Kent.

The things you learn in one 20 minute session:

"there is no such thing as a bicep"

"wines are lower case"

and:

"car bomb
two words"
Posted by boynton at January 31, 2006 02:05 PM