Journalese of the Day: Gird

A headline writers’ favorite is the verb “gird,” meaning get ready or prepare. It’s a classic example of journalese: a word that is used in print but rarely, if ever, spoken. When was the last time you’ve heard a politician say, “I’m girding for the next election.” The page one top story, about Gov. Charlie Baker, in the Boston Globe July 4, 2016: “Baker girding for run in 2018.” Gird, getting armored and ready for battle, is a classic Biblical expression, which we describe in a Journalese Dictionary section titled “Gospel Journalese.”

-Robert Skole

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