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nian policy will continued for quite a while.” “It will be a while before Clinton’s performance can be fairly judged.”
At its autumn assizes last year, the court roundly condemned “got.” The condemnation has been roundly ignored. Ann B. Kitchin of Littleton, Colo., appeals for one more blast. She offers in evidence:
For the “Reader’s Digest,” “she got sidetracked.” From The Denver Post, “the real thing got stuffed in the trash.” From the Rocky Mountain News, “Bill and Shirley got married 44 years ago.” From Reuters, “They dressed like male pirates, even dueled like male pirates, but they got pregnant like women.”
The court cannot explain its anathema on the matter of “got.” In most constructions, a more euphonious way can be found to phrase a given sentence. Many an ugly “got” may be eliminated by taking refuge in the passive voice: “The real thing was stuffed in the trash.” “Bill and Shirley were married.”
In an effort to be just, the court acknowledges that some “gots” must be tolerated. It would have spoiled the Reuters paragraph to say that the female pirates “became pregnant like women.” Something sounds amiss in, “I Have You Under My Skin.”
Helen Cullen of Seattle ask a declaratory judgment: Is it “champing at the bit” or “chomping at the bit?” Madam, the court declares, it’s “champing.” In the sense of showing impatience at delay or restraint, “champing” has been around since the 14th century. “To chomp” dates only from 1847. Its primary meaning is to bite heavily, as a dog chomps on a bone.
The court will add that “champing at the bit” is a phrase likely to be lost to those who have never seen a horse, A better wTay to express impatience can be found. All a w-riter has to do is look.
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