Friday, November 26, 2004

Urine-infested Liffey

This has to rate as a bad moment for Bord Fáilte. This headline, "Urine-infested river called threat to Dubliners' health" is just beneath this pleasant picture of the Liffey on the Toronto Globe and Mail's home page.

Of course, it's not a great moment for the Globe and Mail either. I don't think "urine-infested" is correct. "Rat-infested" — sure, but not urine-infested. Any wordsmith or grammarian out there who can speak with more certainty about this?