Chapter 2 Word Choice
81
bone chilling/blood curdling,
heart rending/gut wrenching, NTSB, NASA
An L.A. news manager offers this tidbit about what are called
"mixed metaphors":
"Many persons say `blood chilling' for `bone chilling' or `blood
curdling.' The latter two are correct while the former is not. It's
a mixer. Ditto when `heart wrenching' is used instead of either
`heart rending' or `gut wrenching.' Again, the former is incorrect
while the latter two are correct."
Warren W. Cereghino
KCOP-TV, UPN 13
Some of us learn best by repetition, Mrs. B included.
It's "BONE chilling" and "BLOOD curdling."
It's "HEART rending" and "GUT wrenching."
And one last "what I MEANT to say," thanks to a tip from an on-line
editor:
"While reading a report on the web site of CNN, I discovered a
frequent mistake made by both print and electronic journalists.
The report referred to the NTSB, a U.S. government agency that
investigates aviation accidents, as the `National Transportation
and Safety Board.' There should be no `and' in that name.
Perhaps the author is used to referring to NASA as the `National
Aeronautics and Space Administration,' where an `and' can be
used properly."
Dan Rupp, Editor-in-Chief
Air Safety Online
