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We all make errors, and sometimes, those errors can make us look like idiots. Especially when that error gets published out in the world, even though it likely went through a host of gatekeepers to get there. And that's why we're here. To shame those gatekeepers with an internet scarlet S. I don't expect you to be perfect. It takes a village, and every village has an idiot. But for the sake of your company's reputation, hire a village that has at least one member THAT CAN SPELL.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The Usual Suspects

Let's get this party started, shall we?

Like all usual suspects, this one turned up in a bar, leaving only this hazy photo as proof. Isn't that always the way?

Photo by SC
SC indicated that the "Gent's" sign was just as troubling. Why is it so difficult for some people to accept that a word can just be plural? It doesn't require accessories.

I know this is acceptable in some circles, but I don't like it.

Photo by SH
It's just off-putting. It makes me want to ask "for your SUV's WHAT?" What do you think?

I know I bag on local news a lot around here, but honestly, how can I not? This is the local news equivalent of the floral sack dress. They have officially given up.

Photo by AD
Your story lacks punch when the audience is snickering at your inability to spell. Meanwhile, just one minute earlier, on a different day, on THE SAME CHANNEL:

Photo by AD
When I graduated from college, I lived at home for about a year trying to get a job at a local Florida station, and no one would hire me. I'd like to think they're kicking themselves right now. They're probably not, but y'know. It makes me feel better about myself.

This is probably more of a judgment call, but really, if we're not here to judge, then what are we doing?

Photo by MLW
Stash? What are they doing? Stashing something somewhere? Keeping a stash of something? NO. They're abbreviating mustache. Which makes me (and photographer MLW) think they can probably just stick with the word's actual spelling, and go with stache. What do you think?

MLW sent me another photo, and in it, she may have discovered the earth's most challenging word. Now that she has Basset Hounds, she has discovered no one can EVER spell Basset correctly. This was spotted in the Skymall catalog:

Photo by MLW
Adorable dog. Very strange chair protector thing. Almost unforgivable misspelling in a published magazine that everyone on a plane will read, because what else are you supposed to do? Talk to your neighbor? Please. No one wants that.

My friend MAB spotted this sign that I'm guessing is pre-printed, though it seems an easy fix, given today's easy computering. There's no real need to pre -print signs anymore.

Photo by MAB
As Seen IN? Preposition Fail. But what I really need to know is if anyone's tried this beverage, and if I need to. Is it any good? I am, after all, a lover of chocolate! And a hater of incorrect prepositions.

And a couple of food fails to round out this post. First up, a sign that comes SO CLOSE.

Photo by KM
This signmaker obviously doesn't believe in doubling consonants, even when you're supposed to. Nope! Not gonna do it. And so we get zuchini instead of zucchini and batered instead of battered. Letters are expensive! And to this person, perhaps redundant.

And finally, I do love Fridays. All kinds of Fridays. Even potentially euphemistic Fridays.

Photo by CW 
If you guess what he means by "Friday," you get quadruple sides!

Thanks, all! Keep 'em coming!

Friday, January 4, 2013

It's back!


Sure, the post schedule has slowed down, but the menu/food-related errors sure haven’t. 

From regular submitter AS comes this menu from a coffee meeting of hers. Have a look at the soups of the day. I would prefer that my potato not leak out of my soup, wouldn’t you? 

Photo by AS
Not to mention the Cesar salad up there. Maybe it’s a salad made by Cesar? Eh, maybe not. 


MAB took this at one of my favorite salad spots. I spotted a spelling error at the same restaurant the same day, but didn’t have a chance to snap a pic. Fortunately, MAB was more on top of things than I was. 

Photo by MAB
Here in LA, whenever they misspell a protein name, I worry that it’s actually substitute meat, but I don’t think that’s what they mean here. Surely, they’d have gone with “chickn” instead of “proten.” PROTEIN, people. It’s what’s for lunch. 


There are a LOT of problems here, but I guess I can grant points for consistency? 

Photo by CP
I would guess these are drinks from the Fringe alt-verse, but that was spelled wrong differently. This is all a part of Windmark’s evil plan, isn’t it? 


Photo by SH
That’s…a lot…of ellipses. And an extraneous hyphen. And a dessert that sounds pretty gross to me. But I’m pretty firm in my belief that anything that is not chocolate is a waste of time. 


And finally, just remember that you should only use the restroom at the restaurant if you’re a customer. Otherwise, there could be a problem. 

Photo by CS, via JR
 Yikes!