More Nitpicking
May 17th, 2007 by Bob Bly
It’s a small thing, but it bugs me.
Continental Airlines, in their commercials in inflight video, talk about how their dedication to service includes “meals at mealtime.”
First of all, it sounds redundant. When else would one serve meals?
Second, it’s odd, old-fashioned phrasing.
At various times of the day, I get hungry, and think it’s time for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
But I never mentally say to myself — “It’s mealtime.”
Why does this matter?
Because copy should be written the way people think and speak.
To me, Continental’s wording is oddly jarring, which distracts from the message and makes one aware that one is heading scripted commercial copy.
Do you agree that “meals at mealtime” doesn’t exactly flow off the tongue?
Or am I being too much of a nitpicker on this one?
This entry was posted on Thursday, May 17th, 2007 at 4:48 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:52 pm
It sounds folksy to me. Kind of down-home. I’m not sure who their target audience is…you don’t see Continental much in California.
Does the language fit other parts of their campaign? Maybe a regional campaign where that language is more commonly used?
No argument there.
May 18th, 2007 at 1:20 am
Seems especially strange, considering that an airline – in the travel business, of course – would necessarily cross time zones. Which would make “mealtime” completely arbitrary, wouldn’t it?
May 18th, 2007 at 3:35 am
I’m with you on this one, Bob. The redundancy here is not only stupid, but “mealtime” sounds more fitting for a dog food commercial than a commercial targeting human airline passengers!
May 18th, 2007 at 9:13 am
I think maybe it’s because they are advertising the fact that they still serve meals at mealtime, while other airlines do not.
May 18th, 2007 at 7:48 pm
Bob, I confess I like the folksiness of the line, but it’s a largely irrelevant claim. It seems to me that many, perhaps most, domestic flights deliberately avoid flying at traditional meal times, just to keep us from expecting meals. I often find myself landing somewere just before noon, for a connecting flight at 1:30 or 2.
And as for international flights, as Pam says, what’s mealtime? (Although I admit that getting breakfast at 7 or 8 a.m. Europe time–even though it’s only 2 or 3 a.m. body time–helps me adjust to the new time zone.)
May 21st, 2007 at 6:53 am
“Meals at mealtime.”
True, it does seem redundant; also a bit queer to my eyes as I’m unaccustomed to the word mealtime. After moving to this new state, I’m still having a time trying to figure out the difference between “supper” and “dinner.”
I’m guessing what the airline’s trying to get across is that you get meal at times when you’re normally accustomed to getting your meals, i.e., since their flights are scheduled so that breakfast, lunch, or dinner fall around those actual times, it means they don’t serve you breakfast at 3 p.m. nor dinner at 2 a.m.
That’s my guess. The meaning of that, however, is buried in their assumptions that the average person will make that obscure connection.
I’m not real fond of the overly casual tone, either. In my mind, airline professionals are highly trained experts at keeping the plane in the air. To have them coming across like the spokesman for Motel 6 seems out of place.
May 23rd, 2007 at 7:52 pm
Amusingly, this is the exact same phrase that Alaska Airlines used to use when promoting their advantage over competitors: “…and meals at mealtime.”
Funny how Continental (now an Alaska partner) would appropriate this a handful of years later.
May 25th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
Sounds to me like Cracker Barrell might own some Continental stock. Maybe they could add a few rockers in first class while serving their meals at mealtime.
May 29th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
I agree that it does not flow. The wording says, “Here comes cutsy marketing speak because we don’t have anything intelligent to offer.”
June 13th, 2007 at 11:32 am
Because of the cynicism of most airline travelers (such as myself) it seems an example of “bizzaro speak” implying the opposite of what it says. I read it and think “they mean they don’t serve meals on any flight I’m on.” You hop on a plane and they offer you trailmix and you think, “darn, it must not be mealtime. My mistake.”
July 3rd, 2007 at 9:47 am
Hello! Good Site! Thanks you! aticoxuczmfm
July 5th, 2007 at 9:19 am
Thanks for this site!
qg.asgre.biz
ke.brth.biz
yb.brth.biz
pv.asgre.biz
March 13th, 2012 at 8:29 am
i just thought that queen latifah is one of the best comedians out there, she is really funny’
March 16th, 2012 at 6:37 am
Among myself and my partner we’ve owned or operated a lot more MP3 players over time when compared with I could count number, such as Sansas, iRivers, mp3s (vintage & effect), the Ibiza Rhapsody, and many others. But, recent years I’ve been feeling relaxed to one distinct people. Why? Simply because I was thrilled to understand how well-designed along with entertaining to use the particular underappreciated (and commonly mocked) Zunes are.
March 19th, 2012 at 4:03 am
I need support and concepts to start out a brand new website?
August 13th, 2013 at 1:56 pm
Having read this I believed it was rather informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this informative article together. I once again find myself spending way too much time both reading and leaving comments. But so what, it was still worthwhile!
May 22nd, 2020 at 12:53 am
Giveaway Giveaway, who want free gift card. I know everybody want free give card. The giveaway start at 2020/5/2 and end at 2021/5/2. This is a 100 dollar hotel gift card. If you want free gift card so please visit this website
and i will send this gift card to you in gmail. Please visit this website How to get budget flight – travel tips
July 2nd, 2020 at 7:02 am
Thanks for this site!
zeynep aydemir bio
zeynep aydemir biography
zeynep aydemir wiki
zeynep aydemir age
June 12th, 2021 at 1:00 am
A Pug named Pompey is even credited with alerting Holland’s William I, Prince of Orange, to an assassination attempt by Spain. Over time, pugs have been the favored breed or both royals and celebrities—from Napoleon and Queen Victoria to Andy Warhol and Rob Zombie.
https://pugslandbreeder.company.com
June 16th, 2021 at 2:01 am
Your music is amazing. You have some very talented artists. I wish you the best of success.
June 29th, 2021 at 1:10 am
https://savannahbengal.company.com/
August 10th, 2021 at 3:57 am
Coming up next, we’ll be looking at the reverse Swoosh. Keep in mind, this is the Nike Swoosh that can be found on the exterior side of the shoes.
https://www.jordankicks.org/fake-travis-scott-jordan.html
January 25th, 2022 at 9:53 am
Thanks for the informative post. I need a help with web development or flutter app development so are there any developers? I’m not so deep into this, so please contact me if you can. Thanks!
February 11th, 2022 at 1:22 am
For me the best movie streaming app is hdo box apk, it has numerous amazing features such as downloading movie, subtitle and lots more
February 16th, 2022 at 5:34 am
Accidentally I have come across this website and am so confused about the topic you https://haloprincesscutdiamond.com have specified here. What about Meals at mealtime? The topic you have discussed here is related to that and I am looking here for more updates on that. Keep sharing more details here.
May 7th, 2022 at 2:00 am
Seran is offering the best lawn dress design 2022 for women to make their collections fashionable. Seran fabrics are premium quality which make your outfit fancy
June 23rd, 2022 at 1:53 pm
Join Envoy and enjoy the same free unlimited personal travel for you and your family, anywhere on the American Airlines global network. It’s the best employee .
August 17th, 2022 at 3:15 am
Nitpicking is something that everyone does to some degree. It’s the process of finding and removing minute flaws in a heardle person or object, often with the intent of finding fault so as to invalidate something.
August 19th, 2022 at 11:15 am
A stupid questions fit and merged for the citizens. The matter of thesqas starter kit
kit is implied for the space. The matter is filed for theist of the joys for the reforms or the paths in this ambit.
September 7th, 2022 at 3:15 pm
Professional writing services https://is.gd/iMX1gL by Copywriting Services. Get high quality, professional and affordable writing services now.
September 7th, 2022 at 3:24 pm
We are pleased to bring you a great selection read more
September 21st, 2022 at 8:27 am
Great
https://www.citizendailypost.com
https://www.metrodailyreporter.com
June 27th, 2023 at 1:12 pm
Thank you for the information.
Useful links to find doctors:
Dentist
Dermatologist
October 9th, 2023 at 4:57 am
Newborn celebrations gifts are tokens of joy and congratulations given to commemorate the birth of a new baby. These thoughtful gifts may include baby keepsakes, personalised items, and practical baby necessities that symbolise the joyous occasion.
October 10th, 2023 at 1:07 am
Discover reliable USA VPS Hosting services. Benefit from the high-performance infrastructure, robust network connectivity, and low latency, all tailored to meet your hosting needs within the USA market.
October 11th, 2023 at 4:24 am
IhostVPS is a premier VPS hosting provider in the USA. Our cutting-edge infrastructure ensures lightning-fast performance and unparalleled reliability. With our user-friendly control panel and expert support, we empower businesses and individuals to harness the power of USA VPS hosting for their online ventures.
December 18th, 2023 at 4:57 am
A Nageltisch is simply a nail table or manicure table. It’s a piece of furniture designed for performing various nail care treatments, such as manicures and pedicures. These tables often come equipped with storage drawers and a comfortable work surface.
December 21st, 2023 at 12:29 am
A Barbershop Bedienplatz is the workspace within a barbershop where haircuts, shaving, and other services for male clients are carried out. This area typically includes a chair, mirror, and tools.The Barbershop Service Station is the heart of every barbershop, where skilled barbers work their magic to create fresh looks and maintain well-groomed appearances. This dedicated area is thoughtfully designed for both the barber’s convenience and the client’s comfort.
January 3rd, 2024 at 8:01 am
As a large scrap buyer in UAE , We Buy Dead Stocks possesses the necessary resources and infrastructure to handle substantial quantities of scrap materials. Whether you have surplus metal, plastic, paper, or any other recyclable waste, they have the capacity to accommodate your needs efficiently and effectively. Their well-established network of collection centers, processing facilities, and transportation systems ensures a seamless and streamlined process from start to finish.
May 16th, 2024 at 3:56 pm
Saleem’s recent review of assignment writing services is a treasure trove of information for students in 2024. Through thorough research and personal experience, Saleem unveils his top 3 recommendations, providing a clear path through the maze of options available. His insightful evaluations empower students to make informed decisions about their academic support: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/assignment-writing-services-try-2024-our-top-3-review-shahid-saleem-m3h4f/, ensuring they receive high-quality assistance. Whether you’re a seasoned scholar or new to the academic arena, Saleem’s review is an indispensable resource for achieving success in your assignments.
September 22nd, 2024 at 5:14 am
Ok
September 22nd, 2024 at 5:18 am
Having a backup plan is essential in today’s unpredictable landscape. Studies show that diversifying income sources can mitigate risks—over 40% of workers report having a side hustle to secure their finances. At FBills
, we provide resources to help individuals manage their electricity finances effectively.
September 22nd, 2024 at 5:28 am
Having a backup plan is essential in today’s unpredictable landscape. Studies show that diversifying income sources can mitigate risks—over 40% of workers report having a side hustle to secure their finances. At FESCOe-Bills
, we provide resources to help individuals manage their electricity finances effectively.
October 16th, 2024 at 4:03 am
With the convenience provided by GEPCO Bill at https://gepcoonlinebil.pk , staying informed about your electricity consumption has never been easier. Whether you need to monitor peak and off-peak hours to reduce costs or pay bills online without hassle, GEPCO’s system ensures a smooth user experience. This platform is a game-changer for managing household energy consumption, helping customers avoid unnecessary delays and extra charges.