Am i right or the BBC Journalist?

[PortBlacksandResident]

Floods (again) in our area. BBC journalist is at the local heritage railway line which has been badly damaged by the floods and closed just before the local drama group are due to put on a performance.

The BBC journalist then laughs smugly and says "Ironically the play was due to be the Tempest".

Was this the correct thing to say as it's bugged me. I can see where he's coming from but shouldn't he have said "Aptly" instead of Ironically?

What do you Pedant's of higher intelligence think??

[RustyBear]

I think you're right - journalists never seem to know how to use ironically.

Am a little at the thought of the Tempest staged on a steam train - presumably a modern production?

[PortBlacksandResident]

LOL - yes that's one i wouldn't have been too keen to see either.

[beaniesteve]

Isn't the irony in the fact that they were unable to put the play on because of the floods?

[JaneHH]

I think you'd probably object to the whole of Alanis Morrisette's song (called, I think, Ironic...). The lyrics go something like "ironic... like rain on your wedding day" and other such ironic trials of life

Not sure about the pedantry rules here, but wouldn't there have been outrage if he/she had said "aptly" though?! Even if incorrect (?), "ironically" does pervey a slight smidgeon of sympathy in this case...!

[tissy]

Pedants without the apostrophe, please!

[JaneHH]

PS another thing Am VERY much hoping PBsR that your spelling of "Pedant's" was meant in an ironic fashion

PPS and now ohmigod I realise I've said "pervey" which is a) incorrectly spelt and b) a complete malapropism. I meant "convey".

[JaneHH]

great pedants think alike

[tissy]