Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
A misplaced quotation mark has led to the call-out (in the print
version on p 713) crediting Shakespeare with words he did not write. The
quotation from Henry IV (Pt 2) ends after the words 'excellent wit'. The
next sentence, I assume, was written by Dr Dalrymple.
It would be tempting to pretend that I knew Falstaff's lines so well
that I spotted the error, but, sadly, that's not the case. However, the
last sentence just didn't sound right to me. On checking the Oxford
English Dictionary, I discover that the first recorded figurative use of
'cornered' as a verb isn't until the late 19th century so my stylistic
suspicions were correct.
But I am grateful to the BMJ sub-editor who made the mistake, for a
pleasant excuse to read the whole speech and delve into the dictionary
(one of my favourite occupations).
Another spirited quotation about the topic may be this one from
Macbeth (Act II;Scene III):
MACDUFF What three things does drink especially provoke?
PORTER Marry,sir,nose painting,sleep and urine.
Lechery,sir,it provokes and unprovokes:it provokes the desire but it takes
away the performance. Therefore much drink may be said an equivocator with
lechery: it makes him and it mars him;it sets him on and it takes him off;
it persuades him and disheartens him, makes him stand to and not stand to;
in conclusion, equivocates him in a sleep and giving him the lie,leaves
him.
Re:Shakespeare and alcohol
A misplaced quotation mark has led to the call-out (in the print
version on p 713) crediting Shakespeare with words he did not write. The
quotation from Henry IV (Pt 2) ends after the words 'excellent wit'. The
next sentence, I assume, was written by Dr Dalrymple.
It would be tempting to pretend that I knew Falstaff's lines so well
that I spotted the error, but, sadly, that's not the case. However, the
last sentence just didn't sound right to me. On checking the Oxford
English Dictionary, I discover that the first recorded figurative use of
'cornered' as a verb isn't until the late 19th century so my stylistic
suspicions were correct.
But I am grateful to the BMJ sub-editor who made the mistake, for a
pleasant excuse to read the whole speech and delve into the dictionary
(one of my favourite occupations).
Competing interests: No competing interests