The idiom bury the lede means to fail to emphasize the most important part of a story in an article (or vital information more generally). Both bury the lede and bury the lead are correct, with “lede” simply being an alternative journalistic spelling invented between the 1950s and 1970s.
What does it mean to bury a lead?
(idiomatic) (news writing style) To begin a story with details of secondary importance to the reader while postponing more essential points or facts.
Where does the phrase bury the lead come from?
Way to bury the lede! The expression comes from journalism, in which the word lede (a jargon spelling of lead) refers to the introductory (lead) sentence or paragraph of a news story. In a hard news story, the lede typically summarizes the most important aspect(s) of the story (and tells what the article is about).
What does not bury the lead mean?
To “bury the lede” (sometimes spelled “bury the lead”) means to delay sharing the essential information in a story, and beginning with secondary details instead.
Is it good to bury the lede?
In a news story, the “lead” (aka lede) is the first few sentences that quickly convey the gist of the story. When done right, whether in a newspaper article, resume or LinkedIn profile, a good lead makes the reader want to keep reading. Burying it, on the other hand, can cause a reader to lose interest.
Is it spelled lede or lead?
lede. Long ago the noun lede was an alternative spelling of lead, but now lede is mainly journalism jargon for the introductory portion of a news story—or what might be called the lead portion of the news story.
Why do journalists call it a lede?
About Ledes. The introduction to a news article is called the ‘lede’ and is usually in the first paragraph as in an essay. The ‘lede’ is a deliberate misspelling of ‘lead’ to prevent confusion in the days when printing was done with lead type.
When did lede become a word?
Lede is a noun with an interesting history. It originated in newsrooms sometime between 1950 and 1970, where it was used as slang for the first sentence of a story. The Oxford English Dictionary put it in the 1950s, while Merriam Webster puts it around 1970.
What does bury mean in Old English?
The geographical use of “-bury” and “Bury” is derived from burg or burh, Old English for a town or fortified place, while the verb “bury” comes from byrgan, an Old English verb meaning to raise a mound, cover, or inter.
Is there such a word as lede?
In news reporting, the lede is the main idea in the first few lines of a story. Most writers work hard to make the lede interesting and accurate. While this word is sometimes spelled lead, and either way rhymes with reed, it’s especially common in American journalism to use lede.
What does bury a bone mean?
1 to place (a corpse) in a grave, usually with funeral rites; inter. 2 to place in the earth and cover with soil. 3 to lose through death. 4 to cover from sight; hide. 5 to embed; sink.
What does bury the hatchet mean?
to agree to end the disagreement
to agree to end the disagreement that has divided two people or groups: After years of fighting over who should have gotten Dad’s money, my brothers finally buried the hatchet.
Can you use a quote in a lede?
Remember: say as much as you can in the least number of words possible. Do not use a question, a quotation, or a cliché (an overused expression) for your lede. These are cutesy tricks that beginner journalists often use, and these overused tricks reflect the journalist’s inexperience.
What comes after the lede?
The nut graf or nutgraf is the graf with the most “meat” in it. It usually comes after the lede.
What is an example of a lede?
Lede Example 1
So your lede might go something like this: “A man was injured yesterday after falling from a rickety ladder which collapsed as he was painting his home.” This sums up the main points of the story in just 19 words, which is all you need for a good lede.
What is the purpose of a lede?
In literature, journalism, and content marketing, a lede is the first paragraph of a written work. Its purpose is to both inform and entice the reader — explaining or summarizing what the article is about and making that topic seem interesting.
What is a lede in English?
Definition of lede
: the introductory section of a news story that is intended to entice the reader to read the full story.
Should a lede be past tense?
Simply put, the verb “lead” is in the present tense, and “led” is its past tense form.
What’s a sentence for lead?
Use “lead” in a sentence
This road leads to the station. You’d better lead the way. Just follow my lead.
What do you say at the beginning of a news report?
News journalists call the first sentence of a story the ‘intro’, or introduction. The first sentence should summarise the story ‘in a nutshell’ and cover key information. At least three of the six classic questions (5 Ws and 1 H) – Who, What, Where, When, Why and How – should be answered in the intro.
Is the lede the same as the headline?
A lede, or lead paragraph in literature is the opening paragraph of an article, essay, news story or book chapter; the subhead (also known as subheader, standfirst, rider, kicker, bankhead) in journalism is an introductory or summary line or brief paragraph, located immediately below the headline, and typographically