A Conversation for Ask h2g2

Are subeditor's an endangered species

Post 1

Whisky

Ok, thought that would get your attention?

Silly question really, but is the title sub-editor an H2G2 invention or does the title really exist out there in the real world...


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 2

Whisky

(specifically in the world of publishing that is)

Note this second posting is exclusively to correct the apostrophe that crept into the title smiley - winkeye


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 3

Gnomon - time to move on

Subeditor is a general term which has been used (mainly in the UK) since 1835.


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 4

Wand'rin star

My godson's brother is the sports editor of a British daily paper. Before attaining these dizzy heights he was a sub.Definitely in the real world.
I thought the original q was going to be a pedantic wail against some recently spotted grammar or spelling howler. I clocked the apostrophe, but thought it was of ironic intent.smiley - star


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 5

Whisky

smiley - cheers Gnomon...

This has all the makings of the shortest Ask H2G2 thread ever smiley - winkeye


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 6

Whisky

Now I can explain why I was asking this question, and why I'm now quite disappointed...

Watching a certain TV quiz show last night (you know the one.. presided over by a Red-headed, Welsh dragon wearing black who terrorises the contestants smiley - winkeye)

They had a special edition with authors as contestants...

One of the contestants, the novelist Jilly Cooper got the following question

What P, responsible for correcting spelling and grammatical errors in publishing, precedes the word 'Reader'

The answer should of course have been Proof Reader... but after a second's hesitation, ms Cooper comes back with the answer ' a sub.

smiley - erm either she's extremely stoopid or she's been spending far too much time on H2G2


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 7

Gnomon - time to move on

As a contestant in h2IQ, you should know that when under pressure, you often don't listen to the whole question. Sub is a perfectly valid answer to one part of that question. In Newspapers, it is normally the subeditor's job to write the headlines, even though the articles are written by the journalists. This can lead to amusing headlines, such as "Small Earthquake in Chile - Not many injured" or whatever the exact wording was.


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 8

Whisky

Me not listen to the whole question smiley - yikes never.... smiley - erm what were you talking about againsmiley - doh...


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 9

Mina

Maybe when faced with the Dominatrix of the TV world, she meant the alternative type of 'sub'. smiley - winkeye But that might just be me.


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 10

Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like

But I wouldn't call her Welsh...
I seem to recall that she made quite a few enemies in Wales recently by stating that they had no reason or purpose the their existence...
smiley - shark


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 11

Henry

The Leekest Wink?


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 12

Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like

smiley - laugh
I'll have a P please Bob. Oh, that was something else, wasn't it...
smiley - shark


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 13

Whisky

Now you're showing your age
smiley - nahnah


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 14

Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like

Bah!
It is now back on TV, though hosted by Lisa Tarbuck...
smiley - shark


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 15

Gnomon - time to move on

I vote that all quiz-show hosts should be addressed as "Bob".


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 16

Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like

Except Matthew, as;
'Tonight Matthew, I'm going to be...'
has entered the English language.
smiley - shark


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 17

Henry

As in - "Tonight Mathew, I'm going to be..." castigated and humilated by my workmates until I retire for one pointless moment of dry-ice filled vanity I could probably have reproduced at home with a mop end, some dark glasses and a black shirt "Roy Orbison!"


Are subeditors an endangered species

Post 18

Blues Shark - For people who like this sort of thing, then this is just the sort of thing they'll like

Well indeed, but I do regret that Underworld bottled out of calling theitr last album (the one that ended up being called (Beaucoup Fish) by it's original title 'Tonight Matthew, we will be Underworld'.
I would have bought it for the title alone...
smiley - shark


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