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Crossing the Strait of Hormuz?

(5 Posts)
grumppa Mon 13-Jul-26 13:09:30

BBC News keeps referring to shipping "crossing" ( or not) the Strait of Hormuz. But surely to cross a strait is to travel from one side to another, as from Dover to Calais? The current problem is with ships passing through the strait, not crossing from Iran to the Arab states on the other side.

Chardy Mon 13-Jul-26 17:17:12

Grumppa I don't disagree, really, but here's an alternative perspective

Most of us 'know' the geography of the Straits of Gibraltar. If you're in the Med facing west, you will eventually enter the Straits of Gibraltar, keep going and enter the Atlantic. Isn't that crossing the Straits of Gibraltar?

But like you, I'd prefer crossing through the Straits.

While we're on the subject, I assume that the TV newsreaders have a copy on the device in front of them and on the teleprompter. Similarly radio news readers. Does no editor read these in advance? Some of the grammar leaves quite a lot to be desired, especially with the use of prepositions. Meanwhile KS2 English demands 10/11yr olds have knowledge of Fronted Adverbials!

AuntieE Mon 13-Jul-26 17:34:43

I have always taught my pupils that crossing meant going across something, as in "I crossed the street", This sentence means that I walked across the street from one side to the other.

I do not think I have ever used or accepted crossing through anything. If you traverse a strait, canal or street longitudinally you go along, down, up or through it.

The trouble with news broadcasts of any kind is that they are made at short notice, obviously, as otherwise they would hardly contain News, would they?

This means that those who draft them, write telepromts, etc. need to be good at the language they are writing. Then too, there are well- defined limits to how many words anyone can read, take in, and express from a telepromt, so the message has to be concise.

grumppa Mon 13-Jul-26 21:06:36

BBC have started referring to passing through the Strait. The power of Gransnet!

Iam64 Mon 13-Jul-26 21:17:12

grumppa

BBC have started referring to passing through the Strait. The power of Gransnet!

🌞🌞🌞