The Associated Press needs to pay more attention to their stylebook when reporting the news.
This morning’s breaking news tweet from the Associated Press read “BREAKING: Dutch military plane carrying bodies from Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 crash lands in Eindhoven.”
The tweet led most readers to believe that the plane carrying nearly 200 bodies of the plane crash victims had also crash landed.
What the AP meant was that the plane carrying the bodies of the victims from Malaysian airliner crash MH17 had successfully made its landing in the Netherlands.
Nearly 2/3 of the victims of the crash were Dutch. Russian rebels had previously taken control of the bodies of the victims, storing them in refrigerated train cars, and many are concerned that the bodies have not been handled properly.
The confusing AP tweet led to some predictable internet outrage.
Minutes later, the AP clarified the news: “CLARIFIES: Dutch military plane carrying Malaysia Airlines bodies lands in Eindhoven.”
Let this be a lesson in the difference that commas can make.