Lead vs. Lede: A Convincing Argument for the Former

Warning: This post is for word nerds and journalism aficionados.

A columnist whom I follow recently used the term “Lede” while discussing a newspaper editorial. As a former publisher and editor, I’ve long been aware of the two schools of thought concerning the term that refers to the first sentence in a news article. My instinct insists that I always use “Lead” and shun “Lede” because, well DUH!, a good first sentence LEADS the reader into the story.

Because the columnist’s use of “Lede” annoyed me, I did a deep, online dive into the topic. I found this article, by Roy Peter Clark, which (for me) definitively puts the matter to rest. I am sharing it because, well, it’s a really interesting “Rede.” 😊

#wordnerd #articleoftheday

Photo by The New York Public Library on Unsplash