O'Connor woman on the wrong side of Yamba Drive

Pork Hunt said :

We have the greengrocers’ apostrophe so why not call it constables’ paragraph…

+1

We have the greengrocers’ apostrophe so why not call it constables’ paragraph…

Robertson said :

“the driver has entered the median strip ”
“The car has rolled several times “

What is it with these people’s prose? Truly awful.

I’d like to know what the technical name is for writing in that tense. Present imperfect, or something like that? Whatever the case, it’s a really obscure form that I only ever see in police announcements. Why on earth would anybody write “The car has rolled” rather than “The car then rolled” for example, given that it happened in the past? It certainly jars my eyes every time I read one of these atrocities.

Are there any grammar experts out there who can give a name to this horror?

c_c™ said :

bundah said :

‘Entered the median strip’? Surely it should be driven over or mounted.

I think the language used is correct, in that the vehicle ‘entered’ a non trafficable area.
The language used has to be precise given it is a legal matter. Entered is a neutral term, while driven is a term that prejudges and they could be called out on it later on. Might not be poetic but it’s practical.

It’s not “a legal matter”, it’s a public press release. The least they could do is write it in English.

Alderney said :

c_c™ said :

bundah said :

‘Entered the median strip’? Surely it should be driven over or mounted.

I think the language used is correct, in that the vehicle ‘entered’ a non trafficable area.
The language used has to be precise given it is a legal matter. Entered is a neutral term, while driven is a term that prejudges and they could be called out on it later on. Might not be poetic but it’s practical.

The police in other states routinely use phases such as ‘crossed to the wrong side of the road’.

It’s a media release, not a document to be presented in court.

they also use phrases like ‘the car then lost control’… no it didn’t! control of the car was lost, but not by the car – it didn’t do anything…

there, i’ve said it. i’ll shut up now.

c_c™ said :

bundah said :

‘Entered the median strip’? Surely it should be driven over or mounted.

I think the language used is correct, in that the vehicle ‘entered’ a non trafficable area.
The language used has to be precise given it is a legal matter. Entered is a neutral term, while driven is a term that prejudges and they could be called out on it later on. Might not be poetic but it’s practical.

The police in other states routinely use phases such as ‘crossed to the wrong side of the road’.

It’s a media release, not a document to be presented in court.

We should put a speed camera there.

BWA HA HA HA HA!

Asleep at the wheel, that’s what I gleam from the information provided. Whatever happened, here’s hoping to a speedy and relatively complication free recovery.

Alderney said :

Does one still need to become a police officer and then transfer to other areas within the police? I.e. do these people need to be police?

If this is still the case, it is little wonder the prose is so poor; coppers aren’t the sharpest tools in the shed.

There’s another one lurking under the bridge! Flee! FLEEEEE!!!

bundah said :

‘Entered the median strip’? Surely it should be driven over or mounted.

I think the language used is correct, in that the vehicle ‘entered’ a non trafficable area.
The language used has to be precise given it is a legal matter. Entered is a neutral term, while driven is a term that prejudges and they could be called out on it later on. Might not be poetic but it’s practical.