Learn English Logo

English In Use - Just Plane Silly'

A selection of headlines from stories in the news. They use English in a way that you might think is intended to confuse but it's all perfectly clear to the native speaker.

The Daily Star headline of 'Just Plane Silly' is a classic example of a word which sounds the same but has different meanings when spelt differently. The headline is used on a story that celebrations of Virgin Atlantic's first flight from Manchester to Atlanta, Georgia were spoilt when crew who were supposed to give the plane a special send off by spraying it with water cannons before passengers boarded, accidentally used fire-suppressing foam which clogged engines and turbine blades and forced the plane to be grounded. So the headline, which could have read Just 'Plain' Silly was changed to use the word 'Plane'.

 

Discover more from Learn English

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram