How does a hurricane move? It “barrels” and “churns,” to judge from the most popular verbs. “Lumbers” is the oddest verb choice, yet it is used rather often, I guess to convey a large scale (hearing it on the radio this morning led me to this investigation). But can a hurricane really “march”? I guess that’s to show inexorability. Can it “aim”? Here’s just a small sample of today’s journalistic prose at work.

  • “Hurricane Irene … makes its way toward the US mainland.” –ABC News
  • “Hurricane Irene [is] churning toward the New York/New Jersey area.” — ESPN
  • “Hurricane Irene churned on a northwest track.” –Scientific American
  • “Irene churns toward North Carolina.” — Bloomberg
  • “Hurricane Irene … advances toward the East Coast.” — Ydr.com
  • “Hurricane Irene may be hurtling menacingly toward the coast.” — Wall Street Journal
  • “Hurricane Irene … barrels toward the East Coast.” — Technolog
  • Hurricane Irene barreled toward the region. — Boston Globe
  • Hurricane Irene made its way toward the region.” — Boston Globe
  • Irene continues to steam through the ocean.” — Boston.com
  • “Hurricane Irene … roars toward the U.S. East Coast.” Los Angeles Times
  • “Irene lumbered into the Bahamas.” — Patch.com
  • “Hurricane Irene … bore down on the Bahamas.” — PBS
  • “Irene … spins toward the Bahamas.” –WSBTV
  • “Hurricane Irene slammed the Bahamas [and] heads toward the East Coast. — Washington Post
  • “Irene takes aim at Long Island.” NY Daily News
  • Hurricane Irene aims its fury toward the North.” — brunswickbeacon.com
  • “Hurricane storms toward Philly region.” — myfoxphilly.com
  • “Hurricane Irene moves toward the Carolinas.” — Charlotte News
  • “Irene continued its march across the Caribbean toward the U.S.” — Fox News
  • “Hurricane Irene marched north.” — Wall Street Journal