I prefer pancakes.

GET OUT THERE AND VOTE, FELLOW AMERICANS!

Ahem. Back to the task at hand.

Two submissions today from my friend JR, who has apparently gone on some sort of fire-related spending spree.

Fortunately, in this instance, she assures me her child is "ofer" 36 months.

Photo by JR

Clearly, it's just a typo, since the D and the F are next to each other on the keyboard, but it's really a shame that the typo made it to printing and packaging.

Friends who speak other languages: is what you can see there spelled correctly? Does that sentence need two idades? I'm concerned this may be some sort of international house of horrors.

Also, my favorite German word has always been schnell, but it may now have been replaced by aufbewahren. It sounds like what you scream at the screen when you're watching a horror movie. "Dude, don't go in there! AUFBEWAHREN!"

(Thanks, JR!)

Committed

You know how when you type the same word over and over again, you begin to feel like it's not really a word? It loses all meaning somewhere along the way, and just becomes a jumble of letters with no real point. I can only guess that in the construction of this website, the writer must have started to get that feeling about the word "commitment." While the word itself doesn't actually appear all that often, if it's in the mission statement of the company you work for, you likely see it pretty regularly. On the website, in letterhead, in signs around the office. That sort of thing. And that can make it really difficult to spell the word correctly, especially when it's a different form of the word.

It's a lot of words.

Check out the last word. It's COMMITMENT. But seriously, I wish that was the only problem this website has. If you have a few minutes, check out the whole thing. It didn't seem like a good idea to reproduce it here, but it's worth your time. Apostrophails, typos, and formatting errors abound. It's a sound demonstration of why a LOT of words isn't necessarily the best way to communicate. Packing All The Words into a website isn't a great way to pitch your company. Getting straight to the point and not wasting a potential client's time is.

Something to think about the next time you're writing copy for your organization. Or the next time I'm telling someone a story. I do so LOVE to use as many words as possible.

(Thanks, AB!)

Not helping the stereotype

Good morning! We're starting the week off with a submission that's not a spelling fail. More of a diction fail. Have a look:

Submitted by CD

CD says this was posted by her alma mater to its Athletic dept. website. Her question, which I agree with: "If this is a "sold out event," then why tell people not to miss it? Don't we have to miss it because there are no tickets left?"

An excellent point, CD. There's more madness here than meets the eye, it would seem. Oh, LMU. Time to get your English department on the phone with your Athletic department for some sort of meeting of the minds. How many university departments does it take to produce one event poster?

Don't ask questions you don't want the answer to. That way lies madness.

(Thanks, CD!)

Presented Without Comment

Photo by JR

(Thanks, JR!)

It's NOVEMBER, y'all.

Can you believe it? When did that happen? Where did the year go? The good news is that we're now in the same month as Thanksgiving, which is my favorite holiday, full of carby delicious foods. Are you making your turkey plans yet? Don't keep them secret!

I hope you guys are still enjoying reading this blog! If so, please feel free to share the posts on Facebook, or Twitter, or email a link to your friends. If you like it, they will, too!

If you spot any submissions for the blog, send those bad boys on to the usual places! The email address is over there on the right!

Keep an eye out for today's Presented Without Comment, and have a fantastic, leftover-candy filled weekend!

Meet you back here on Monday.

Higher education

I attended Florida State, which is in Tallahassee, Florida. Just down the street from FSU was (is) Florida A&M, so I've always had a special place in my heart for that school, too. I took a class there, which didn't go all that smoothly, but that was the fault of a classmate, and not the school.

While doing research this week for a project at work, I went digging through FAM's website for some info, and stumbled upon this little gem:

Still no Oxford comma.

Now, listen. I understand that FAM's Media Relations office must be kinda swamped these days, since they're having some...issues. But this is particularly egregious seeing how it immediately follows a line about enhancing the public image of FAMU.

I heart you guys. Get your ___ together! I want to see you always awesome! Always awesomer!

Yeah, I'm making up words now. It's probably because I only took ONE class at FAM. I should have taken more.

Happy Holidays!

Now that Halloween is over, prepare for the mental and emotional onslaught that is the Christmas shopping season. Let me be the first to wish you the best of this impending holiday.

Photo by IU

Maybe it's multiple choice? After all, IU is a teacher.

Also, Oxford comma, I miss you terribly. There's a time and a place to skip it, and this is not one of them. Come back to us, dear friend!

(Thanks, IU!)