Why Bother to Proofread?

Ah, so I’m not the only one who spots a single typo on a page of 300 small-print words. Of course, to err is human (we’ve all done it), so no scolding here, just some fun and an underscore of why we bother to proofread.

“The Pasta Bible” by Silvio Rizzi and Tan Lee Leng: … A recipe calls for “freshly ground black people,” (I’m thinking that oughta be black “pepper”, no?)

“The Fiction” by H.P. Lovecraft: … “…our vessel was made a legitimate prize, whilst we of her crew were treated with all the fairness and consideration due us as navel prisoners.” (Unintentional belly humor.)

“The Queen’s Governess” by Karen Harper: … “In the weak light of dawn, I tugged on the gown and sleeves I’d discarded like a wonton last night to fall into John’s arms.” (A rather starchy romance…)

“An American Tragedy” by Theodore Dreiser …”…harmoniously abandoning themselves to the rhythm of the music – like two small chips being tossed about on a rough but friendly sea.” (Lays or Doritos?)

“King James Bible”, 1631: …”Thou shalt commit adultery.” (yikes)

And one from my personal archives….. back in the mid 80’s, a hulking print campaign of AT&T’s “Spirit” phone system had inadvertently used a competitor’s name, “Sprint”, in place of “Spirit” throughout the documents. Luckily someone caught it before it went to press…

(Typo spottings from above best-selling books, courtesy HuffPost Books section.)

Patricia Saxton

No Comments
  • FS

    November 18, 2011 at 8:19 am Reply

    You are not the only one…

    … question: “an hulking response” or, a hulking response? 😉

    • saxtonstudio

      November 18, 2011 at 1:56 pm Reply

      see how true? all of us are guilty at times!

      • FS

        November 18, 2011 at 4:34 pm

        🙂 It’s a curiosity of the English language and its grammar.

        We can say, for example, an historian, but a history. We’re a funny that way.

  • Kathryn L Ryan

    November 18, 2011 at 7:49 am Reply

    Recently in my home town of Willoughby, OH, the Lake County News-Herald, on the FRONT PAGE, reminded people that Daylight Savings Time was coming to an end by admonishing them to “turn back your COCKS tonight!” Yes, true. Front page. Large type. Sheesh.

    • saxtonstudio

      November 18, 2011 at 7:54 am Reply

      No. They didn’t … But yea, they did, didn’t they? Wow!

    • FS

      November 18, 2011 at 4:36 pm Reply

      No! Seriously..?? Oh my goodness. THAT is one for the books: to be a lesson in every editor’s book as to the dangers of using spell check, although how that got by anyone or anything is a bit curious….

      of course if you’re gonna mess up, make sure to do it on the front page, huge type.

  • letempspasse

    November 17, 2011 at 5:46 pm Reply

    I meant hi-LA-rious of course…. 😉

  • letempspasse

    November 17, 2011 at 5:45 pm Reply

    Hilirious ! Thanks for a good laugh !!

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