Take a look at these two pictures from today’s Tribune (click the larger one to see it full-size):
Notice anything wrong? Yep - both captions state that it was the first snow of the year…but according to my calendar, the first snow of 2007 occurred way back on January 6th. That would make this week’s snowfall the…what…maybe the 14th or 23rd snow of the year?
I’m sure they meant that it was the first snow of the season, but hey…they were only off by nearly eleven months.
8 responses so far ↓
1 Inez // Nov 22, 2007 at 10:26 am
It would depend on how you define “year.” At my business, the year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30. So in my world, the Tribune is correct. It is the first snow of the year.
2 david // Nov 22, 2007 at 10:49 am
Nice try, Inez, but I think that 99% of the readers equate “year” with “calendar year.” It’s true that many businesses and the government use “fiscal years” which can run from Oct - Sep or Jul - Jun, for instance, but for general reading and news purposes, “year” is taken to mean calendar year.
3 Walter Greenspan // Nov 22, 2007 at 11:49 am
It’s highly unlikely, but there is the ever so slight infinitesimal chance that they were referring to the Jewish Biblical year 5768 that began at sundown on Wednesday, September 12 ???
4 Jiblet // Nov 22, 2007 at 1:01 pm
What a silly gotcha moment. It could just be me, but I’m thinking most peoples understand that when you say, “the first snow of the year”, you’re talking about the first snow in the fall not the first snow of January.
5 gravy // Nov 22, 2007 at 1:06 pm
As a teacher, I’m oriented toward the school year, which of course begins in the fall, as does the calendar I use.
6 The Yard Whisperer // Nov 22, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Maybe they meant fiscal year. Maybe they’re insane. Dave, maybe we’re insane and it really didn’t snow at the beginning of this calendar year. Maybe it was pixied dust from from the calendar Gods. Maybe it was big brother. Or maybe, Dave is right.
7 jocko // Nov 22, 2007 at 6:27 pm
I can’t buy Dave’s argument.
First snow of the season would mean the first snow of the fall. Come Winter Solstice Dec. 22, we have a new season. So if it snows Dec. 23, should the Tribune call that the first snow of the season also?
I’m a college basketball fan, and announcers already are referring to this “year’s” top players, top freshmen, etc. Should they be including players from last season, since ther were still playing through March of this year?
It’s the first snow of the year.
8 david // Nov 22, 2007 at 11:23 pm
Nope…nice tries, but the fact remains that in 99% of all conversations and writings, the word “year” refers to a calendar year.
And jiblet, I wasn’t aiming for a “gotcha” moment — just pointing out something that was either (a) misleading, or (b) inaccurate, or (c) both.
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