Both in the transcript of its reporters interview with Caroline Kennedy and in the front-page story that described it on December 28th, the NY Times reproduced the verbal tic she used many times: the familiar "You know" that many people use in place of a comma in their speech. In todays "Week in Review" section, Peter Bakers piece makes fun of her when he writes: "Caroline Kennedy, you know, may get there on the strength, you know, of her last name."I dont recall the Times including such speech-mannerisms in its reporting before, except perhaps on the sports pages. Has their policy changed? Why would they do it in the case of Ms. Kennedy?

Rev. Joseph A. Komonchak, professor emeritus of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New York.

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