Every week I send out a blog post that I have proofread — at least once, but probably twice — and still, I get word from my readers that the post contains a typo. It is embarrassing, especially for someone like me, whose business is words and using them properly. I promise I will proofread this post at least twice!
The point is that we all need to proofread our writing, whether it is a written business letter, an e-mail memo, an advertisement, a social media post, or even a tweet. Oh, and it goes without saying that we authors need to proofread our books a zillion times.
Disclaimer: This is not a political or partisan post, but it will likely turn out looking like one! So, here we go . . .
When my writing contains a typo, my readers may notice and tell me about it. Social media and the internet in general have made errors much more public. I have a fair amount of readers of my books, my posts, etc. HOWEVER, when the leader of the free (well, so far it is still free ) world and his administration make mistakes, it is Big News — at least on the opposing political side (which is what I am familiar with), a side that is substantial.
I started to collect some of the things I heard about on the news, and then I researched a few other “typos” recently made by our current administration.
I use the word “typo” loosely. There are a couple of different things that can be called “typos,” sometimes euphemistically.
- Sometimes two letters are reversed. Sometimes the finger just lands on an adjacent key by mistake. Sometimes a word is repeated, or one is left out. Sometimes, maybe the wrong punctuation mark is typed. Okay, sometimes, perhaps the wrong “to” is used. These are typos.
- Sometimes something is simply spelled incorrectly. Or the wrong punctuation mark is used, creating a grammatical mistake or something so unclear it is unreadable. Sometimes, people make up words. These are not typos; these are mistakes.
- And then, of course, there is “fake grammar,” “fake punctuation,” and “fake spelling,” but these don’t exist.
Here is just a sampling of “They should know better”: (They means the president unless it says otherwise.)
- Lead is in pencils. The past tense of the verb lead is led.
- President and precedent are two different words with very different meanings, although they are both nouns. (I will give him that.)
- Bigly or big league? I don’t know. Apparently, it is big league, since bigly is not a word. However, I heard big league used where it really didn’t sound right. Bigly — if it were a word — would probably be an adverb. Big league seems like an adjective when the two words are used together. For example, “The crime in Chicago is big league.” I wish I remembered the context to which I am referring, but I don’t.
- Non-sense? Ah, no. It is nonsense. (nonfiction, nonfat, etc.)
- Look-up is not hyphenated as a verb. For example, “I am going to look up this phone number.” However, I saw it used as such.
- I saw nucular in a Tweet. I don’t think that is a typo!
- “SEE YOU IN COURT, THE SECURITY OF OUR NATION IS AT STAKE.” That sentence would be a run on — a comma splice, to be exact. And besides, it is shouting when you use all caps.
- Names of the leaders of our allies should be checked to make sure they are spelled correctly. It is Theresa May of Great Britain, not Teresa May.
- Okay. This is kind of a tough one, but the Secretary of Education should be more careful! It is W.E.B. Du Bois, not DeBois. Would you like it if I called you Betty Du Vois instead of Betsy DeVos?
- Oh, and then she sent apologizes instead of apologies.
- The inaugural poster has been withdrawn from sale. Why? “No dream is too big. No challenge is to great . . . “ I guess the challenge of using the correct to was too great.
- The word congressman should be capitalized.
- A tweet said pervail instead of prevail. Typo or misspelling? You be the judge.
If you can figure out the meaning of either of the following two passages, please let me know!
“There’s nothing that would conclude me — that anything different has changed with respect to that time period.” — Sean Spicer
“Today I have authorized lethal drone strikes against Jerry Brown, a Colorado marijuana dealer and Miss Universe 1996.” — Donald Trump
Proofread, proofread, proofread — and let someone else look at what you have written!
Addendum: Frederick Douglass died in 1895, I believe. His last name is spelled with two ss‘s (I am not implying here that anyone spelled it incorrectly), and if his last name is made possessive, with three ss‘s. (Frederick Douglass’s hat). Just saying . . .
My complaint is that we too often leave out the word “that” — resulting in ambiguity and confusion.
The listener or reader has to mentally insert “that.” Omitting “that” interrupts flow.
Also, beginning a sentence with “that,” rather than “the fact that” requires the reader to mentally reverse the understanding that occurs with that short-cut wording.
In the attempt to be concise, eliminating “that” can make it difficult for the reader to understand clearly as the words flow.
Apparently it is now the trend — and considered correct by many publishers — to omit the “that” beginning a clause. I generally put mine in. Sometimes it is definitely needed. Other times, maybe not so much, but I like it. And beginning a sentence with “that” usually makes it one of those pronouns wth a vague antecedent, probably in the previous sentence, but sometimes hard to know. So, I am with you!
As a working proofreader, I thank you for your comments and your constant, comical slant you bring to your writing.
Thank you! I so appreciate your comment and kind words!
Thank you very much for your article. I will use it for my private students preparing for the Intermediate English Language Proficiency Examination.
You are very welcome!
Although I am not an American citizen – American in the sense people from the United States give the word; I am Argentinian, which is in America, the continent – I can’t but feel absolutely astonished not only by the misspelling or typos or even the way the President speaks, but most worryingly by the decisions made by his administration.
Thank you for pointing out on these, among other mistakes, Arlene.
And yes, I would also like someone with such power to be both careful with his words AND his decisions.
Thank you for your comments. And yes, the whole world is astonished 🙁
The President of the United States of America is not ‘the leader of the free world’. He rules no country other than the USA.
It used to be said that the President of the United States was the leader of the free world because the United States was the leader of the free world. Unfortunately, I say that in the past tense.
Just today, I read an email ad for a workshop on telling your life story in a memoir. It said, “Bearing your soul is good for you.”
I was unclear whether this means your soul is heavy, or if it is ursine.
Ha! As I said, we all need proofreaders!!!
I love the light touch you bring to this topic, Arlene. If the tone were darker, the facts would be the same but the read would be less fun. On a dangerously rainy day, most of us could use some grammatical sunshine.
That said, a question came to my mind. Which would you prefer: An administration that writes perfectly but engages in policies that threaten our way of life, or an administration that makes many spelling and grammatical gaffes, but focuses on programs that benefit the great majority of the people?
I believe it is possible–likely even–that the new administration will clean up its compositional problems, yet continue to use bullying and lying to undermine important elements of our system, for example, the courts and the news media.
But I wonder if you feel that there is an association between sloppy writing and misguided governance, a lack of empathy, and the habit of treating facts with contempt.
Wow! Let’s see. First of all, thank you for the kind words; I am glad you liked the post. I would prefer an administration that is respectful of the language and takes things seriously enough to put out good communication AND focuses on programs that would benefit our people. I said it wasn’t a political post, but right now we have an administration that makes many gaffes in every way and in my opinion (and the majority of those in America and around the world) is doing nothing to benefit the majority of the people and in face is extremely dangerous. I think both will continue until something changes in the personnel. And yes, I think the lack of maturity and lack of caring about any kind of laws or rules or standards (not to mention everything else, which I won’t) is absolutely related. Finally, I also think the people up there are not as bright as the usual people in charge of our great country. The cabinet is the least educated in a long time. Not one of them has an advanced degree. And none of them is experience or knowledgable about his/her position.
Does “for example” relate to what it follows or what it precedes? This ambiguity is a common problem. Would different punctuation help?
I try to begin with for example, so it refers to what follows. But you can put it at the end or even in the middle. It should have a comma before, after, or on both sides of it, depending on where it is, for clarity.
for example, wearing blue shoes all the time
wearing blue shoes all the time, for example
wearing, for example, blue shoes all the time
I am not sure that answers your question. Ah, I see you referring to Murray’s statement. I assume in that sentence for example refers to what follows as it generally is assumed to do. I see where it cold be ambiguous in certain cases. So, I think it is generally assumed to refer to what follows.
I’m willing to cut people a little slack in tweets and on social media. Still, the leader of the free world should have higher standards. Thank you for standing up for clarity and careful communication! I never thought we’d get to the point where a grammar blog would need to take a side in the political realm, but when our very language, and the facts on which civilized society rests, are attacked, none of us has (have?) much of a choice. (This construction always trips me up: does the “has/have” agree with the “none” or “us” in this case?)
Thank you for the comment! I think the typos and misstatements are a reflection of the whole situation. Good question. None can be singular or plural, but it does mean NOT ONE and therefore is generally singular.
I love you Arlene. I thought I was the only person who was aware of these mistakes. This country is in so much trouble with this administration. I read your comments regularly. Keep up the good work.
Jo Ann – You are by no means the only person. We are in the majority! I agree with everything you say, obviously. I will keep up the good fight: grammar and otherwise. Thank you so much for your comment and kind words!
You’re welcome. Thank you for your response. Just an added note. I see so many errors in our local newspaper, speaking of proofreading. No response necessary. Thanks again for what you do.
Most newspapers are now riddled with errors, as are some books by big New York publishers. And I cringe when I listen to radio and television personalities – who are paid to speak – when they can’t use correct grammar and clear sentences! I think part of it is they have gotten rid of editorial staff, at least in the print media.
Love it!
Thank you so much, Dina!