<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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