NewsBlues mrsbgrammar Page 74
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Mrs. Bluezette's Grammar Guide
"cop talk" translations
Mrs. B encourages you to lose the "cop talk" in your writing and
reporting. It sounds stiff and pretentious.
David Courtland, a California reporter for the King City Rustler, put
together this list of what police SAY and what they MEAN:
lacerations and contusions = cuts and bruises
abrasions = scrapes and scratches
sustained bodily injuries = got hurt
semi-comatose = partly conscious
gained entrance = broke into
proceeded = went to
responded = went to
observed = saw
contacted = met
advised, informed, indicated, notified = told
counseled, admonished = told, given a lecture
transported = taken or driven
investigation revealed = found
exited the vehicle = got out of the car
fled on foot = ran away
secreted = hid
incarcerated = jailed
ceased to operate = stalled, jammed
ejected = thrown
failed to observe, failed to perceive = didn't see
steering failure = couldn't steer
vehicle was towed, vehicle was stored = car was impounded
Let's SAY what we MEAN.
