Attribution: Be precise, he said.

By Dick Thien
Chips Quinn Writing Coach

When you think of attribution, think of the word "reporter" in its narrowest sense: We report what others say. We tell the reader where we got each piece of information. Even in reporting a speech, where obviously there is only one speaker, we repeat the attribution (. . ., Jones said . . ., Jones said). If we fail to do that, the reader will not be able to tell what Jones said and what the reporter added.

Attribution is precise. If you tell readers where you got the information, they will be able to use their judgment about its reliability. Attribution also is a matter of covering yourself. Your source may give incorrect information. If you present it as fact, you are in error. If you write that Jones said it was fact, you are technically accurate, though the information itself is incorrect. You, too, are to blame for not verifying what your source said. Proper attribution at least spreads the blame.

Pitfalls

Be precise attributing information.

He felt that, She thought that: You cannot KNOW what people think or what they feel. You only can know what they SAY they think or feel. So write that someone said so-and-so; or, if you think it is necessary to work in the word "think," that someone said she thought so-and-so. Most careful writers do not use "feel" as a substitute for "said." They reserve the word feel for matters of touch.

He stated the fact that: Don't get out on a limb by saying something is a fact or is not a fact; make your source do it: He said that

Unfortunately, the use of unnamed sources is common in journalism, though it always weakens credibility. The reader has a right to know who is making charges or claims inside knowledge. Before you promise sources you will not use their names, check with your editor.

In attributing information, follow the natural pattern of the language. To do that, you will write "he said" and "she said" over and over. That is because the natural pattern is subject first, then verb -- as in he said. A writer can achieve variety by deliberately violating the natural order. In straight news writing, such juxtaposition calls attention to itself. In addition, it has an unnatural sound. People don't talk using backward attribution. Unless you have one heck of a good reason, use the "she said" order.

Two reasons for reversing the order are:

1. When you want to identify the speaker: " . . . said Jane Jones, the associate professor of speech." (Better: " . . . Jane Jones said. She is an associate speech professor of speech."

2. When you want to say something more about the speaker: " . . . said Robert Jones, the third speaker on the program." (Better: " . . . Robert Jones said. He was the third speaker on the program."

In attribution, be precise in word choice. Ninety-nine times out of 100, "said" is the precise word. True, there are many other related words, but each has its narrow meaning, and that meaning usually is not the one required. Avoid the urge to use added, admitted, affirmed, announced, charged, claimed, commented, conceded, declared, disclosed, explained, exclaimed, maintained, mentioned, noted, observed, opined, pointed out, remarked, revealed and stated.

Each of the above has a restricted meaning. To use such words for the sake of variety will cause imprecision. Or, as Ring Lardner wrote: "'Shut up!' he explained."

TRICKY PAIRS

To and Too
Though we all know the difference between these words, we often forget it and write lines like, "She was to stubborn to reason with." Try to create a mental red flag that goes up whenever you type the words "to" and "too." Without such a red flag, the writer will often have a red face.

Principle and Principal
Principal means the chief thing (as a noun) or chief (as adjective).
Remember the distinction taught by seventh-grade teachers: The principal (chief person in the school) is your pal.

EXAMPLES: My principal objection to the plan . . .
I paid more in interest than on the principal.

Principle means a rule or code.
EXAMPLE: She stood by her principles.

Farther and Further
Farther means more distant or greater distance.
Further refers to time or degree.

USAGE TRICKS AND TRAPS

Due to
When reporters use this expression, odds are 10 to 1 they are using it incorrectly. "Due," say language purists, is an adjective. Therefore, it must relate to a noun or pronoun. It is correct to write, "coughs due to colds" ("due to colds" tells the reader something about the type of cough). It is incorrect to write "resigned due to sickness" ("resigned" is a verb so the due to phrase would be adverbial). To test for correctness, substitute the word "attributable" for due. If the substitution works, then due is correct. If it fails, use "because of."

SPELLING WORDS

tomorrow
separate
paid
cemetery

About the column

Write It Right is updated regularly. Have a suggestion for a future column, contact Dick Thien.

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