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Man dies?

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(@martha-barnette)
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The media often use the headline "Mr. X dies." I thnik that indicates that he dies on a regular basis. For instance, Mr. X runs, tells me that this man is a runner. Wouldn't it be better to say "Mr. X died"?

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(@Anonymous)
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Headline grammar has its own rules. Here's one link to some basic information: http://esl.about.com/od/intermediatereading/a/newsheadlines.htm

("Man bit dog" just doesn't have that certain something...)

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(@Anonymous)
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There is a word (phrase) for this, no? Speaking always in the present tense, even when something has happened previously? One uses the present tense when discussing literature in a scholarly forum too, yes?

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