Have some class

Posted

Permit me to introduce you and your editorial staff to the asterisk. The asterisk (*) is a symbol used in printed material to represent, among other things, omitted letters or words. It is particularly useful in preventing obscenities from appearing on Page A1 above the fold, as happened in your Sept. 4 edition’s coverage of the ill-fated vessel Bertie. Examples of how to use an asterisk in this instance include, “Holy s***” or, “Holy shi*” or, “Holy *hit” or, “Holy *hi*” or, “Holy s*i*” or even “Holy ****.” As you can see, it affords tremendous creativity for the writer while preventing a publication from sinking to CNN levels of boorishness.

Scott Hogenson
Port Ludlow