The phrase "breaking news" is often misspelled as "break news". The correct spelling includes the -ing ending, denoting the present participle form of the verb "break". The IPA phonetic transcription for "breaking news" is /ˈbreɪkɪŋ nuz/. The first syllable is pronounced with the long A sound /eɪ/ and the final syllable is pronounced with the vowel sound /ʊ/. Remembering to include both the -ing ending and the correct vowel sounds can help eliminate spelling errors for this commonly used phrase in news reporting.
To "break news" refers to the act of reporting or disseminating new and previously unknown information to the public, especially through media outlets. The term is commonly associated with journalism and signifies the important role played by journalists in revealing significant and up-to-date stories to audiences. Breaking news typically encompasses events, stories, or developments that have occurred recently, are unexpected, and hold significant relevance or impact on society, politics, economy, or other important aspects of life.
Breaking news often involves unveiling and providing details of events as they unfold or are discovered, making it distinct from the coverage of more well-known or previously reported stories. The primary objective of breaking news is to inform and update the public, allowing them to remain well-informed and respond to rapidly developing situations or breaking stories. It may involve incidents such as natural disasters, political scandals, terrorist attacks, major scientific discoveries, business developments, and other current events.
The nature of breaking news demands immediacy, accuracy, and urgency. Journalists dutyfully work to verify information from reliable sources and corroborate facts before conveying them to the public, although occasional inaccuracies or incomplete information may occur in the initial stages of breaking news due to its dynamic and ongoing nature. Breaking news is typically broadcasted through news bulletins, live reporting, online platforms, and social media channels, ensuring that people receive the latest, most relevant information promptly.
The phrase "break news" originated from early journalism practices and has its roots in the verb "break" and the noun "news".
The word "break" in this context refers to the act of something becoming known or disclosed for the first time. It comes from Middle English "breken" which means "to separate" or "to burst". Over time, it developed additional meanings, including "to appear" or "to become known".
The word "news" traces its origins to the Latin term "nova" meaning "new things". It entered Middle English in the 14th century as "newes" and eventually became "news".
When combined, "break news" represents the act of revealing or making public new information or events for the first time in journalistic reporting.