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Phillip Blanchard
 Post subject: Reinventing the wheel
PostPosted: Wed Jan 08, 2003 7:08 pm 
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Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 1:01 am
Posts: 8342
Location: Bethesda, Md.
By Mark Jurkowitz
Boston Globe<p>If you're anything like me, you're a list junkie.<p>***Thank you, Mark, for that excellent example of the exclusionary lead. Now don't do it again.***
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Emily Salmon
 Post subject: Re: Reinventing the wheel
PostPosted: Wed Jan 08, 2003 9:07 pm 
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Joined: Sat Nov 16, 2002 1:01 am
Posts: 86
What's an exclusionary lead?
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Phillip Blanchard
 Post subject: Re: Reinventing the wheel
PostPosted: Wed Jan 08, 2003 9:16 pm 
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Joined: Sun Apr 07, 2002 1:01 am
Posts: 8342
Location: Bethesda, Md.
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica ,sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Emily Salmon:
What's an exclusionary lead?<hr></blockquote><p>I'm glad you asked.
A lead that essentially dismisses a significant number of readers is an exclusionary lead.<p>"If you're like me" is a classic construction.
Others would include "everyone" leads ("Everyone knows that Todd Husak isn't happy being third-string"), the related "no one" leads ("No one cares whether garbage is picked up on Thursday or Friday) and too-narrowly focused leads ("Deaf Ukranians are pissed off and want Lithuanians to listen to them"). Another is the question lead (almost always best avoided anyhow) that, when answered, leaves a lot of people behind.<p>From the Testy Copy Editors Archive®:<p>From: blanp
Date: Tue Sep 14, 1999 5:06 pm
Subject: Exclusionary lead<p>WASHINGTON (AP) -- Ever wonder why some foods get prime placement on supermarket shelves while other products are stacked practically out of reach?<p>***Nope. It's obvious.***<p>[ January 08, 2003: Message edited by: blanp ]</p>
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