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This headline has 13 words. How much did you expect it to say?

The challenge of balancing completeness and brevity feels, at times, impossible

Joan Ng

Joan Ng

Published Mon, Jun 5, 2023 · 05:50 AM
    • News consumption today means scrolling through social media feeds. Readers click only if something catches their attention.
    • News consumption today means scrolling through social media feeds. Readers click only if something catches their attention. PHOTO: PIXABAY

    LAST month, a clarification appeared in the pages of The Straits Times for an article with the headline: “Fall in motorcycle COE prices shows market working as intended: Iswaran”.

    The headline had paraphrased a comment made by Transport Minister S Iswaran in the context of a recent fall in certificate of entitlement prices.

    Except, Iswaran wanted it on record that he had not used the word “fall”. Instead, he had used the word “correction”.

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