<p>Hunt, I agree that it’s the use of a common phrase and the reporter not knowing what word goes in there. But part of my issue with that is that a curious and bright reporter would think ‘gee, “air on the side of caution” doesn’t make any SENSE, I wonder what that means’ and then ASK someone and get it right. I have a guy I work with who does this all the time, uses phrases that aren’t right for the occasion, but he’s not a REPORTER. </p>
<p>Kind of reminds me of the line from The Princess Bride ‘You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.’ </p>
<p>There is an article in Newsweek this week about the younger generation not knowing as much (as far as memorized facts) as the older generation, but being much better at knowing where to FIND information. Which is great, but if NO ONE knows the difference between ‘air’ and ‘err’, then the language is going to be in trouble.</p>