Fresh and delicious stories about anything that amuses me, confuses me, or makes me blow a gasket. Take a look around the drawer. Just leave everything where you found it.
Jenn – Got that right, sister! I found an “its” misuse a week ago, but it was on a TV where I can’t pause live to get a picture. Yes, I’m always looking. It’s a sickness. Hope you, Alice and Harry had a lovely Christmas!
The weather girl was prolly all excited about the snow and didn’t notice…Yikes I can’t believe I said that…:) robert bourne´s last blog post ..The Road continues this week
I think that’s why the weatherwoman is looking so closely at the screen, isn’t it? It almost looks like she’s pointing to the screen, as if something doesn’t quite look right. Nice catch, Kathy. You’re in the wrong job. 🙂 unfinishedperson´s last blog post ..My Top 5 books read and movies watched this year TSS
I thought you were mocking because her snow totals for Eastern PA were so wrong. Then I saw IT. There is no excuse for this. Every inexcusable lapse makes me fear that we area getting collectively dumber. Shieldmaiden1196´s last blog post ..The Inevitability of December
Aaaand as if in karmic judgement, I typed ‘area’ instead of ‘are’. Righteous indignation before my second cup of coffee is never a good idea. Shieldmaiden1196´s last blog post ..The Inevitability of December
Oh, they are in SO MUCH TROUBLE. I know what happened. The child working in the newsroom who only had to do “invented spelling” for his whole school life couldn’t decide if it should be than or then, so he figured if he did one of each, everyone would be happy. Well, I’m not. sparkling74´s last blog post ..11 Days of Christmas
Boo to the Early Show! I was half-watching this morning, but didn’t catch that glaring typo. Shake your grammar-nazi fist at them! absepa´s last blog post ..There are no magic numbers here
It’s a good thing when I put my mouse over the picture he managed to figure out what the hell was going on. Do you remember when they had the earth rotating in the wrong direction or something like that on some network news show? The television industry needs to hire their proofers and people who know which way the earth rotates with a little more care. Karen´s last blog post ..Benzodiazepines- Off to the Doctor- The Regular One Today
Daisy the Curly Cat — Oh, Daisy, you so funny. Yes, I think that must be it. Or, the person who typed it in didn’t have his morning coffee yet. Silly typer!
HJ Smith — Honestly, how can they change the font and everything and not notice!!! Oh, makes me so mad!
unfinishedperson — These things stick out to me like a sore thumb! I only wish I could have a job like that. Oh, to dream….
Shieldmaiden — Inexcusable is right! I sent my link to them on an online comment form. I dare them to comment on the blog! And sorry that I removed my editing plug-in. I hold it responsible for my Windows Live Writer problems. Afraid to put it back. You’re excused.
Surfie — Same here. For shame, TV people. For shame!
sparkling74 — You and I are cut from the same cloth. I’m not happy either. I’m mortified for them. At the same time, I want to help them. Set ’em on the right path, you know?
absepa — Oh, I shook it all right. Then I showed my husband, who laughed and patted me on the head. He’s more forgiving of these mistakes. But not me. I will never rest. Ever.
Karen — They don’t seem to be hiring people with the most basic of skills, do they? Earth’s rotation wrong? Like how hard is that to even find out? Why aren’t they looking these things up???
That would have slipped past me because I do not watch the weather. I either look out the window or wait for my wife to tell me how to dress, like a good husband!
Even though I have become as bad as anyone over the years, long ago I used to work as a proofreader. You lose it in your own writing over time, but always seem to see it in others. Because of that, I notice things in print all the time. I even see mistakes in big publications like Time, Newsweek, etc. You can tell by the type of mistake that it is the lack of human proofreaders causing the trouble. Probably the best of what I read now is The New York Times Magazine, or maybe Science. But there are few like that left.
Funny thing is that even proofreaders are all different. In the law firm where I worked, I proofed with a partner who had an amazing knowledge of all things grammatical. I was just naturally good at reworking the words into a better form to convey the message. We all did know about then and than, its and it’s, and there and their. That last one really amazes me every time I come across it. Will´s last blog post ..How to Reduce Cell Phone Radiation Exposure
Invented spelling is used when students are getting their ideas on paper. When a piece is ready to be published, invented spelling is NOT allowed. When I was growing up in the 60’s, I felt that EVERYTHING had to be spelled correctly when the pencil hit the paper and I hated writing. It was only when I took a writing course in my 40’s when I was studying to be a teacher, that I understood how invented spelling can free a writer. I agree with Will, that some people are wired to catch those mistakes and other people aren’t. I had to really look at the picture to finally see it.
I know I am getting preachy, but when you have to teach some of the crazy spelling patterns of English to struggling first graders, you realize you need to be more understanding and forgiving. Thank goodness there was an editor for F.Scott Fitzgerald…he was a horrible speller. Should we have thrown his work away because of it?
Just some food for thought…as you can see, just as this bugs you, it bugs me in a different way.
Fire the intern! Wonder if the second string is on during the week between Christmas and New Year’s because the senior editors are on vacation. LV Transplant´s last blog post ..Lehigh Valley Cupcake Watch
It took me until HJ’s comment to figure out the mistake, and worse I looked at the title of the picture so I knew it was a grammar issue. Ugh, school has been out for way too long. Jen´s last blog post ..2010 Year in Review
Mike — That’s a good boy (gives you a virtual pat on the head).
Lisa — And now maybe with this, it’ll make you more OCD? Sorry.
Will — See, that’s the thing. I know we all screw up with spelling and grammar in our daily lives, but I’m much harder on big media outlets who presumably pay people to get it right. That’s where I’m a stickler. You’ve named the biggie mistakes. I’ve been known to even type “they’re” when I meant their/there. Thankfully, I catch myself.
Sue — I’ve never heard of “invented spelling” until this post. Anything that helps a writer with flow and producing is great. But I give little leeway to people who are paid to get it right, especially on a national news program. That’s different than helping a writer out. But I get your point.
LV Transplant — Ha! Yeah, maybe the old-timers were on vacation, like me! I did send this blog post to CBS. Hope no one gets fired. Seriously.
Pricilla — Hee!
Linda Medrano — And surely if the original writer didn’t catch it, someone in the studio noticed. Right? Right? Their was bound to be someone with an I for grammar.
meleah rebeccah — I’m glad you saw the humor, my dear. Always keeping the eyes sharp!
Jen — I like to make you guys work for the payoff. You still love me, don’t you?
I agree that it’s twice as funny because it’s spelled correctly right beside it. I had a friend that sent letters to publishers who sent out books with spelling errors. Sometimes they would send him free books with the correction and a letter of thanks.
It could be they are getting “less” snowfall, THEN 5″… haha. I love that they spelled it once right and once wrong – not sure how that can actually happen.
OMG Pricilla’s comment is priceless! Though 5″ isn’t anything to write home about, not that I’d write home about that but you know what I mean. Jen´s last blog post ..2010 Year in Review
It’s like they really didn’t know which one was correct and figured it was better to get 50% right instead of 100% wrong. And they pay these people the big bucks, too. Yep. You’ve gotta wonder. injaynesworld´s last blog post ..injaynesworld The Tree Stays Up
I think the Kennedy’s in Boston have a hard time with the ‘than’…..might be a regional dialect sort of thing. I can’t see Robert Kennedy ever saying the word ‘Than’. Bruce´s last blog post ..A Better Therapy
Stumble it!
December 27th, 2010 at 8:38 am
Heh, proofing the news– and on your day off, too?
I know, I know, proper grammar and spelling never takes a holiday. 🙂
Jenn of Many Cabbages´s last blog post ..The Guess That Christmas Song Game- Answers!
December 27th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Jenn – Got that right, sister! I found an “its” misuse a week ago, but it was on a TV where I can’t pause live to get a picture. Yes, I’m always looking. It’s a sickness. Hope you, Alice and Harry had a lovely Christmas!
December 27th, 2010 at 8:52 am
The weather girl was prolly all excited about the snow and didn’t notice…Yikes I can’t believe I said that…:)
robert bourne´s last blog post ..The Road continues this week
December 27th, 2010 at 8:55 am
oh my i think i typed that for them. and how did you freeze the tv to get that picture. is that dvr?
December 27th, 2010 at 8:57 am
robert — You mean you can’t believe you said “prolly,” right? I forgive you. This time.
v — Yes, DVR. Just his pause and snap.
December 27th, 2010 at 9:06 am
Haha! Maybe they are going over last year’s snowfall. They had less snow then.
Daisy the Curly Cat´s last blog post ..Monday Funnies
December 27th, 2010 at 9:21 am
They even italicized the font to emphasize the mistake.
HJ Smith´s last blog post ..SWAT on three!
December 27th, 2010 at 10:29 am
I think that’s why the weatherwoman is looking so closely at the screen, isn’t it? It almost looks like she’s pointing to the screen, as if something doesn’t quite look right. Nice catch, Kathy. You’re in the wrong job. 🙂
unfinishedperson´s last blog post ..My Top 5 books read and movies watched this year TSS
December 27th, 2010 at 10:34 am
I thought you were mocking because her snow totals for Eastern PA were so wrong. Then I saw IT. There is no excuse for this. Every inexcusable lapse makes me fear that we area getting collectively dumber.
Shieldmaiden1196´s last blog post ..The Inevitability of December
December 27th, 2010 at 10:35 am
Aaaand as if in karmic judgement, I typed ‘area’ instead of ‘are’. Righteous indignation before my second cup of coffee is never a good idea.
Shieldmaiden1196´s last blog post ..The Inevitability of December
December 27th, 2010 at 11:22 am
I’m embarrassed for them.
Surfie´s last blog post ..A Little Jar of Heaven
December 27th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Oh, they are in SO MUCH TROUBLE. I know what happened. The child working in the newsroom who only had to do “invented spelling” for his whole school life couldn’t decide if it should be than or then, so he figured if he did one of each, everyone would be happy. Well, I’m not.
sparkling74´s last blog post ..11 Days of Christmas
December 27th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Boo to the Early Show! I was half-watching this morning, but didn’t catch that glaring typo. Shake your grammar-nazi fist at them!
absepa´s last blog post ..There are no magic numbers here
December 27th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
It’s a good thing when I put my mouse over the picture he managed to figure out what the hell was going on. Do you remember when they had the earth rotating in the wrong direction or something like that on some network news show? The television industry needs to hire their proofers and people who know which way the earth rotates with a little more care.
Karen´s last blog post ..Benzodiazepines- Off to the Doctor- The Regular One Today
December 27th, 2010 at 2:44 pm
Daisy the Curly Cat — Oh, Daisy, you so funny. Yes, I think that must be it. Or, the person who typed it in didn’t have his morning coffee yet. Silly typer!
HJ Smith — Honestly, how can they change the font and everything and not notice!!! Oh, makes me so mad!
unfinishedperson — These things stick out to me like a sore thumb! I only wish I could have a job like that. Oh, to dream….
Shieldmaiden — Inexcusable is right! I sent my link to them on an online comment form. I dare them to comment on the blog! And sorry that I removed my editing plug-in. I hold it responsible for my Windows Live Writer problems. Afraid to put it back. You’re excused.
Surfie — Same here. For shame, TV people. For shame!
sparkling74 — You and I are cut from the same cloth. I’m not happy either. I’m mortified for them. At the same time, I want to help them. Set ’em on the right path, you know?
absepa — Oh, I shook it all right. Then I showed my husband, who laughed and patted me on the head. He’s more forgiving of these mistakes. But not me. I will never rest. Ever.
Karen — They don’t seem to be hiring people with the most basic of skills, do they? Earth’s rotation wrong? Like how hard is that to even find out? Why aren’t they looking these things up???
December 27th, 2010 at 3:48 pm
At first I wondered what this was about, and than I saw it 😉
Babs – beetle´s last blog post ..Ho- ho- ho!
December 27th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
That would have slipped past me because I do not watch the weather. I either look out the window or wait for my wife to tell me how to dress, like a good husband!
December 27th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
Well, I thought I was a bit OCD…
Lisa´s last blog post ..To Being Liberated
December 28th, 2010 at 1:20 am
Even though I have become as bad as anyone over the years, long ago I used to work as a proofreader. You lose it in your own writing over time, but always seem to see it in others. Because of that, I notice things in print all the time. I even see mistakes in big publications like Time, Newsweek, etc. You can tell by the type of mistake that it is the lack of human proofreaders causing the trouble. Probably the best of what I read now is The New York Times Magazine, or maybe Science. But there are few like that left.
Funny thing is that even proofreaders are all different. In the law firm where I worked, I proofed with a partner who had an amazing knowledge of all things grammatical. I was just naturally good at reworking the words into a better form to convey the message. We all did know about then and than, its and it’s, and there and their. That last one really amazes me every time I come across it.
Will´s last blog post ..How to Reduce Cell Phone Radiation Exposure
December 28th, 2010 at 7:42 am
Invented spelling is used when students are getting their ideas on paper. When a piece is ready to be published, invented spelling is NOT allowed. When I was growing up in the 60’s, I felt that EVERYTHING had to be spelled correctly when the pencil hit the paper and I hated writing. It was only when I took a writing course in my 40’s when I was studying to be a teacher, that I understood how invented spelling can free a writer. I agree with Will, that some people are wired to catch those mistakes and other people aren’t. I had to really look at the picture to finally see it.
I know I am getting preachy, but when you have to teach some of the crazy spelling patterns of English to struggling first graders, you realize you need to be more understanding and forgiving. Thank goodness there was an editor for F.Scott Fitzgerald…he was a horrible speller. Should we have thrown his work away because of it?
Just some food for thought…as you can see, just as this bugs you, it bugs me in a different way.
December 28th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Fire the intern! Wonder if the second string is on during the week between Christmas and New Year’s because the senior editors are on vacation.
LV Transplant´s last blog post ..Lehigh Valley Cupcake Watch
December 28th, 2010 at 9:52 am
Maybe they are just being wistful. Wanting to remember happier times when 5″ meant something…
Pricilla´s last blog post ..How is Brewster Doing
December 28th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
I can’t believe them people don’t proof that stuff better. I new right away what was wrong!
Linda Medrano´s last blog post ..Merry Christmas Kids!
December 28th, 2010 at 2:08 pm
Oh Kathy! Too funny!
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post ..My Daddy’s 62nd Birthday & Christmas 2010 Re-Cap
December 28th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
It took me until HJ’s comment to figure out the mistake, and worse I looked at the title of the picture so I knew it was a grammar issue. Ugh, school has been out for way too long.
Jen´s last blog post ..2010 Year in Review
December 28th, 2010 at 5:32 pm
Babs Beetle — I like to make you guys think!
Mike — That’s a good boy (gives you a virtual pat on the head).
Lisa — And now maybe with this, it’ll make you more OCD? Sorry.
Will — See, that’s the thing. I know we all screw up with spelling and grammar in our daily lives, but I’m much harder on big media outlets who presumably pay people to get it right. That’s where I’m a stickler. You’ve named the biggie mistakes. I’ve been known to even type “they’re” when I meant their/there. Thankfully, I catch myself.
Sue — I’ve never heard of “invented spelling” until this post. Anything that helps a writer with flow and producing is great. But I give little leeway to people who are paid to get it right, especially on a national news program. That’s different than helping a writer out. But I get your point.
LV Transplant — Ha! Yeah, maybe the old-timers were on vacation, like me! I did send this blog post to CBS. Hope no one gets fired. Seriously.
Pricilla — Hee!
Linda Medrano — And surely if the original writer didn’t catch it, someone in the studio noticed. Right? Right? Their was bound to be someone with an I for grammar.
meleah rebeccah — I’m glad you saw the humor, my dear. Always keeping the eyes sharp!
Jen — I like to make you guys work for the payoff. You still love me, don’t you?
December 28th, 2010 at 6:13 pm
I agree that it’s twice as funny because it’s spelled correctly right beside it. I had a friend that sent letters to publishers who sent out books with spelling errors. Sometimes they would send him free books with the correction and a letter of thanks.
December 28th, 2010 at 6:40 pm
It could be they are getting “less” snowfall, THEN 5″… haha. I love that they spelled it once right and once wrong – not sure how that can actually happen.
December 29th, 2010 at 6:17 pm
OMG Pricilla’s comment is priceless! Though 5″ isn’t anything to write home about, not that I’d write home about that but you know what I mean.
Jen´s last blog post ..2010 Year in Review
December 29th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
Hee heeeeee!
Margaret (Nanny Goats)´s last blog post ..Let’s Play Doctor
December 30th, 2010 at 12:36 pm
It’s like they really didn’t know which one was correct and figured it was better to get 50% right instead of 100% wrong. And they pay these people the big bucks, too. Yep. You’ve gotta wonder.
injaynesworld´s last blog post ..injaynesworld The Tree Stays Up
December 30th, 2010 at 5:36 pm
I think the Kennedy’s in Boston have a hard time with the ‘than’…..might be a regional dialect sort of thing. I can’t see Robert Kennedy ever saying the word ‘Than’.
Bruce´s last blog post ..A Better Therapy