In the days before the internet, news reports were sent by telegraph, which used Morse code. In order to speed up the process they had an extensive set of abbreviations/code words for commonly used words, known as the Phillips Code after Walter Phillips who developed it for the Associated Press. The code word for the end/no more at the end of a reporter's piece was 30.
In the world of journalism, Write 30 means declare the end of something.
Incidentally, abbreviations like POTUS, for President of the United States, and SCOTUS for Supreme Court of the United States originated in the Phillips Code.
In the world of journalism, Write 30 means declare the end of something.
Incidentally, abbreviations like POTUS, for President of the United States, and SCOTUS for Supreme Court of the United States originated in the Phillips Code.
Comments
Students: Are you brave enough to let our tutors analyse your pronunciation?
SSir, I once came across the following statements: "Yesterday, my ailing friend was lively. Today, he finally wrote 30." In this context, is it right to infer that his friend finally died? What do you think?
- Rommel
Yes, that's exactly what I would take it to mean.
- Blue Jay