Another North County News 'Goof of the Week'

In a feature story on the Croton election, we find the following in this week’s North County News:

Olver said he plans to spend his first days in office meeting village staff and listening to their concerns. He also plans to pour over the budget as hearings begin March 24 and culminate with the board’s vote on April 28.

Pour, of course, means to spill from a container. Pore means to study intently. One pores over a book, but pours water. In the North County News excerpt one is tempted to ask what Mr. Olver intends to pour over the budget.

After Bruce Apar, who likes to show off his title as Editor + Publisher, took over the North County News, he managed to eject the prize-winning staff of the newspaper and substituted an entirely new staff, largely neophytes to the newspaper business like himself. He now has clear-cut proof of the adage that you get what you pay for. From our vantage point it’s obvious that he should have given them all spelling and comprehension tests.

Recently, the North County News advertised in the Pennysaver for several weeks seeking a copy editor. The newspaper definitely still needs a good copy editor.

Here’s what The American Heritage Dictionary says about pour and pore:

pour

v.tr.

1. To make (a liquid or granular solid) stream or flow, as from a container.
2. To send forth, produce, express, or utter copiously, as if in a stream or flood: poured money into the project; poured out my inner thoughts.

v.intr.

1. To stream or flow continuously or profusely.
2. To rain hard or heavily.
3. To pass or proceed in large numbers or quantity: Students poured into the auditorium.
4. To serve a beverage, such as tea or coffee, to a gathering: We need someone to pour.

[Middle English pouren, perhaps from Old North French purer, to sift, pour out, from Latin pūrāre, to purify, from pūrus, pure; see peuə- in Indo-European roots.]

pore

intr.v. pored, por·ing, pores

1. To read or study carefully and attentively: pored over the classified ads in search of a new job.
2. To gaze intently; stare.
3. To meditate deeply; ponder: pored on the matter.

[Middle English pouren.]