Comments on: Proofreading Fail

By: Single Non-native Swarthmoron

Single Non-native Swarthmoron — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:15:12 +0000

The old riddle asks: How can you tell the difference between a “resident” of Swarthmore and an “out-of-towner” in the Co-op? Answer: the OOTer is the one craning his or her neck up to read the signs.

By: Patti

Patti — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 04:32:23 +0000

I am the worst! I noticed last year that the Food Network was running a holiday promo with a misspelling – fiesty (instead of feisty). I actually tracked down the producers of the show (after much digging online) to point out the error! To my amazement, it was fixed after 24 hours.

By: lindacopy

lindacopy — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:25:56 +0000

That’s the thing. I’m like Monk when it comes to proofreading, it’s almost a sickness! I just can’t help noticing, but I hide my ability behind a guise of devil-may-care because some folks think you’re a snob if you call attention to mistakes. It is not worth the bad feelings it potentially creates! I’ve trained myself only to point out mistakes at work, before things go to print, and people actually acknowledge that it MATTERS when things are spelled correctly. Now Grammar is a different animal altogether; I take liberties and don’t know why that doesn’t bother me quite as much. Although when I hear “different than” it feels like nails scratching a chalkboard.
Please point out any mistakes above. I will not be offended!

By: Well Read Hostess

Well Read Hostess — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:00:32 +0000

Well now, you are not the only two who have noticed. I’ve just been gritting my teeth because my persnickitiness is not even up for debate and why give people the ammo they are so eager to launch!??!

By: sara

sara — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:41:53 +0000

Surely you have read “Eats Shoots & Leaves”? If not, you must!

By: jennifer

jennifer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:35:09 +0000

When you use an envelope you are using stationEry. When you pedal at the gym, you are using a stationAry bike that goes nowhere.
Clearly you did not have Mrs. Vaught.
Good tip on the two words.
My other favorite trick is “there is a rat in separate.” I was horrified to see a scribbled note the other day with the words “seperate tables” which I had written in haste. Horrors.

By: tommyboy

tommyboy — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 03:00:17 +0000

I don’t know what the hell “e is for envelope, and the a stays!” means, but there is a VERY simple rule for this situation. There are only TWO words you need to know that end in “ery” and they are stationery and cemetery. This has kept me from mis-spelling “secretary” for two decades.

This little tip came from a famous writer who contributed to a series on grammar in the late 80′s. A college roommate’s mother collected them and sent them on. I read each one (there were maybe eight) and this is all I remember. Kurt Vonnegut maybe wrote about colons vs semi-colons; but I can’t remember his point.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:20:45 +0000

Sad bt tru

By: Leslie

Leslie — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:15:27 +0000

r u kidding? no 1 spills anymower.

By: jennifer

jennifer — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:44:21 +0000

You wouldn’t believe how many etsy sellers don’t know how to spell stationery either. They make gorgeous notecards and such, and brand them as stationary. The rule is so simple: e is for envelope, and the a stays!
Copyright 1969, Mrs. Vaught, sixth grade teacher, Russell Blvd Elementary School, Columbia, MO.