Steve Provost

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Steve Provost

About Steve Provost

Steve Provost is a copy editor for The Tribune. His column, “Defining Moments: How Language Shapes our Lives,” explores the power of words — how they can bring us together or, conversely, lead to misunderstandings that cause ever-deeper rifts in an already fractured society. Reach him at 805-781-7913 or sprovost@thetribunenews.com .

Archive by category ''Steve Provost

  • STEVE PROVOST

    When ‘illegal’ becomes illegal

    With immigration a big topic in the news these days, it’s worth noting that The Associated Press recently decided to outlaw the use of the terms “illegal immigrant” and “undocumented immigrant.” Unless you’re a newspaper editor or someone who feels strongly...

  • STEVE PROVOST

    Keeping sight of what matters

    We Americans are obsessed with labels. If you had any doubts, they should have been erased by a story that started making the rounds after the Boston Marathon bombings.

  • STEVE PROVOST

    Readers share their pet peeves

    Shortly after the first of the year, I wrote a column highlighting some of my pet peeves about how the English language is often used — or rather, abused — in the course of written communication.

  • STEVE PROVOST

    ‘Cop’ is not a bad word — it’s just written that way

    Sometimes, a word just sticks in my craw, and sometimes, I don’t see eye to eye with the Associated Press stylebook, which is the last word on words for us journalists. Except when it isn’t. (Yes, newspapers can and do overrule AP and adopt local exceptions to the hallowed writ, ...

  • STEVE PROVOST

    Annoying words and phrases

    Late last year, the folks at Marist University revealed the results of a poll identifying the most annoying words of 2012. The winner was (drumroll, please) “whatever.”

  • STEVE PROVOST

    Are you being formal, or just boring?

    “You want me to de-prioritize my current reports until you advise me of a status upgrade?” — Jack in “Fight Club”

  • STEVE PROVOST

    It’s the attitude that matters

    Here we are approaching the winter season once again, when children are nestled all snug in their beds (if parents are lucky) and visions of sugarplums dance in our heads ( if we happen to know what a sugarplum looks like).

  • STEVE PROVOST

    Trapped in telephone limbo

    Ever get stuck up a phone tree? Hung out to dry like last month’s laundry? Maybe you’re on hold even as we speak, reading this column while you wait for somebody in the Philippines or India or who knows where to resolve your problem. Or, more likely, to tell you it can’t be ...

  • STEVE PROVOST

    Compassion counts

    Communication involves more than words, and nowhere is that more apparent than in a political campaign.

  • STEVE PROVOST

    The trouble with labeling people

    I do my job by adhering to a couple of basic principles: Respect the language and respect the reader.

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