From: Grammar Guard - http://www.grammarguard.org
Title: Palin Problems
By: Christina

After enduring a vigorous polish, Gov. Sarah Palin’s RNC acceptance speech still had a few rough spots.

Consider this statement: “We tend to prefer candidates who don’t talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.” It’s a clumsier way to word what could’ve been simple: “We tend to dislike candidates who talk about us one way in Scranton and another way in San Francisco.”

When dealing with negatives, lead with the negative and let the positive follow. We don’t like people who do XYZ is clearer than we like people who don’t do XYZ.

Palin’s syntax again turned sour when she addressed members of the media. (Better to choose your words carefully when ripping on professional writers.)

“Here’s a little news flash for all those reporters and commentators,” she said. “I’m not going to Washington to seek their good opinion.”

It’s that last phrase that sounds my alarm. I can’t believe every single editor who reviewed this speech let the phrase “good opinin” fly. The proper adjective would be favorable, rather than good. Or, better yet, Palin should’ve said, “I’m not going to Washington to seek their favor.”

In the meantime, she’s losing ours.
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