One thing I have learned from reading the news every day is the necessity of an editor. From bad grammar to misspellings bad English abounds. One aspect of bad English is the use of improper words. Here are two examples of the Manila Bulletin inappropriately referring to violent criminals as "toughies."
A policeman was wounded in a shootout with two armed toughies in Barangay Cotcot, Liloan town, Cebu.Corporal Ian Lagnasan was wounded in the shoulder in the shootout that happened past 9 p.m. on Wednesday, September 18.
Police Master Sgt. Arne Goc-ong, investigator of the Liloan Police Station, said the 30-year-old Lagnasan is already out of danger.
Goc-ong said the two armed men were identified as Fernan Maricuelo and Jason Yrogirog, who both live in the barangay.
A manhunt operation against the suspects is in progress, Goc-ong said.
According to Goc-ong, a woman sought help from the police after the two men were seen brandishing firearms in the neighborhood.
The two men were accused of harassing people while flaunting their firearms.
Five operatives of the Liloan police rushed to the area to check on the report.
Police said that when the five responding police officers arrived in the area, they were met by the two men and fired shots at them.
A gunfight ensued.
While one policeman was wounded, the two men were able to escape towards a mangrove area.
Police said the two men are known toughies in the area.
Police also learned that Maricuelo was previously jailed due to drug charges.
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| https://mb.com.ph/2024/9/20/2-men-stabbed-in-pre-dawn-attack-in-cebu-city |
Six persons barged into a house and stabbed a toughie and his brother before dawn on Friday, September 20, in Sitio Laguna, Barangay Bulacao, this city.
Police said the attack happened at past 4 a.m. in the house owned by the Cabanes family.
Investigators said the intruders first broke into the room of Nora and started looking for something.
Nora said there were four persons who barged into the house while two others stayed outside and served as lookouts.
Once inside, the intruders looked for Jonathan, son of Nora.
When they spotted Jonathan, the four men took turns stabbing him, police said.
Jonathan’s older brother went down the stairs to check the commotion but was also stabbed by the intruders.
The perpetrators fled on two motorcycles. The wounded siblings were rushed to the hospital.
Police Major Jeciree Basitao, chief of the Inayawan police station, said the motive of the attack could be personal grudges.
Police said they learned that Jonathan is a known toughie in the barangay and was allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
Basitao added that Jonathan was previously arrested for illegal gambling but was able to post bail.
The second story is particularly interesting. Six armed men barged inside a house looking for a man named Jonathan. They are referred to as "persons" and "intruders." The man they were looking for and who they stabbed is referred to as "a known toughie" who was involved in drugs. So, he is either a user or a dealer. Why not refer to him as such rather than as a "toughie"? Likewise, if anyone in this story is a "toughie" it's the armed men who invaded a home and stabbed a man repeatedly. There are better, more descriptive and precise words to be used yet the editor let these ridiculous choices slide.
In the first story "two armed toughies" wounded a police officer in a shoot out. They were previously seen brandishing weapons and harassing people. Why not refer to them as armed men or thugs?
Toughie is simply an inappropriate when describing violent criminals.
a person who is tough, determined, and not easily daunted.
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| https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/toughie |
The Cambridge Dictionary of the English Language says toughie meaning a violent person is old-fashioned and informal. Nobody, except the Philippine press it seems, uses "toughie" to describe violent criminals.
When I hear the word toughie I think of the Futurama episode Raging Bender.
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