Spelling the word as lede helped copyeditors, typesetters, and others in the business distinguish it from its homograph lead (pronounced \led\ ), which also happened to refer to the thin strip of metal separating lines of type (as in a Linotype machine). Since both uses were likely to come up frequently in a newspaper office, there was a benefit to spelling the two words distinctly.
So why is there no rede? It would solve the read (reed)/read (red) problem. I think from now on I will REDE my GoComics comics! Come on, gang, who’s with me?!
Traditionally, news stories begin with the most important points (including the lede), followed by less-important matters. That way, you could get the gist of the story from just the first few paragraphs. Also, editors could save space by cutting from the bottom without losing anything important. “Burying the lede” means putting important info further down where it might be missed or cut.
Here, since one lede (his decision to take a nap) is part of the punchline, she delays it to the end—bad journalism, but good joke-telling. I suppose technically she should have said, “He died while taking a short nap when he didn’t feel well after lunch.” (I would actually break that into two shorter sentences.)
SHAKEDOWNVILLE almost 5 years ago
A tisket a tasket, a green & yellow “casket”.
pschearer Premium Member almost 5 years ago
From Merriam-Webster.com:
Spelling the word as lede helped copyeditors, typesetters, and others in the business distinguish it from its homograph lead (pronounced \led\ ), which also happened to refer to the thin strip of metal separating lines of type (as in a Linotype machine). Since both uses were likely to come up frequently in a newspaper office, there was a benefit to spelling the two words distinctly.
pschearer Premium Member almost 5 years ago
So why is there no rede? It would solve the read (reed)/read (red) problem. I think from now on I will REDE my GoComics comics! Come on, gang, who’s with me?!
Zebrastripes almost 5 years ago
Copy that!
Dorothy Ownbey Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I still don’t get it.
betseytacy almost 5 years ago
wow… I wish someone would explain this one for a dummy to understand (like me!!)
Lee26 Premium Member almost 5 years ago
I know what a ‘lede’ is, but I’m not getting this one.
StephenRice almost 5 years ago
“…in the dirt.”
StephenRice almost 5 years ago
Traditionally, news stories begin with the most important points (including the lede), followed by less-important matters. That way, you could get the gist of the story from just the first few paragraphs. Also, editors could save space by cutting from the bottom without losing anything important. “Burying the lede” means putting important info further down where it might be missed or cut.
Here, since one lede (his decision to take a nap) is part of the punchline, she delays it to the end—bad journalism, but good joke-telling. I suppose technically she should have said, “He died while taking a short nap when he didn’t feel well after lunch.” (I would actually break that into two shorter sentences.)
clarrywat Premium Member almost 5 years ago
A bit to much specialized knowledge needed for this to be humorous.