"is-is"

[Jonathan Lighter]

Don't know if this is a new development, but a sixtyish commentator on Fox News (Sorry, I didn't catch whom) just said that "The fact is-is...[_pause_] it's going to be [etc.]."

  The first "is" was stressed.

  This is the first time I've noticed the pause in that position, (rather than across clauses), thuseffectively doubling the "is" *within its own clause.*

  JL


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