John Rentoul examines archaic English in Independent coverage

In a recent analysis, John Rentoul examined the use of archaic English in the Independent's coverage. He highlighted a misquote involving the phrase 'The Tories doth protest too much,' which was corrected to 'The Tories do protest too much.' This correction was necessary as 'doth' is an outdated form of 'does,' stemming from older English grammar. Rentoul also discussed the evolution of language, noting the shift from 'free rein' to 'free reign,' emphasizing the importance of maintaining original meanings in language usage. Additionally, Rentoul pointed out an error in a report about the National Portrait Gallery, where a portrait of Oprah Winfrey was mistakenly attributed to the London gallery instead of the one in Washington DC. This misattribution underscores the need for accuracy in reporting, especially regarding notable figures and their representations. Furthermore, he addressed a grammatical mistake in a subheadline about Mariah Carey, where 'whom' was incorrectly used instead of 'who.' This highlights the common confusion surrounding these terms and the importance of grammatical precision in journalism. Overall, Rentoul's examination serves as a reminder of the significance of language accuracy and the potential pitfalls of miscommunication in media coverage, urging journalists to be vigilant in their use of language and grammar.