First of all, I know my English grammar is far from perfect. I’m still having problems with the comma, though the rules are reasonably easy. However, I literally cringe (with a certain smugness) at simple mistakes, especially when it comes from sources that should know better e.g. the media.

In England recently we saw the following headlines for the local paper:

Of course, any right-minded member of the public understands that the jury were told about a murdered farmer, but without a comma after murdered it seems like a murdered jury were told of the farmer. I suppose it would help if the verb and the adjective were not the same word. Perhaps those people who decide on such matters should strike the adjective form and replace it with something less confusing for journalists.