leadlede

Leadlede is a term used in journalism studies to describe a stylistic technique in which the opening paragraph of a news article intentionally blends or alternates between the spellings and conventions associated with "lead" and "lede." The term reflects ongoing variation between American and British editorial practices and the needs of cross-dialect, multinational audiences. It is a relatively informal concept and is not standardized in professional style guides.

Etymology and history: The word is formed from the two competing spellings of "the opening paragraph" in news writing: "lead" (American spelling) and "lede" (journalistic term). It appears primarily in academic discussions, media commentary, and studies of editorial hybridity from the 2010s onward; it has no official sanction in major style guides and remains debated in scholarly circles.

Usage and examples: In discussions, leadlede may refer to a single lede that accommodates both spellings, or to a passage where notes or glossary elements acknowledge dual usage. For instance, a lede might frame the topic and then clarify that "lead" or "lede" refers to the opening paragraph in different editing traditions. The concept is used to analyze how editors address dialectal variation and audience reach, rather than to prescribe formal practice.

See also: lede, lead, journalism style guide, cross-dialect journalism, editorial hybridity.