yesterday

   Anyone not acquainted with journalists could be forgiven for assuming that they must talk something like this: "I last night went to bed early because I this morning had to catch an early flight." That, at any rate, is how many of them write. Consider: "The announcement was yesterday greeted with restrained enthusiasm in Jeddah" (New York Times); "Police were last night hunting for . . ." (Daily Mail); "The two sides were today to consider . . ." (Guardian). Although in newspapers care must be taken not to place the time element where it might produce ambiguity, a more natural arrangement can almost always be found: "was greeted yesterday"; "were hunting last night for"; "were to consider today."