Fellow English OCD freaks, here's your assignment. Find an error, or what you think is an error, in print and post it. Don't bother to look for it in The Paducah Sun, which is error-free.
Check catalogs and advertising fliers, billboards and signs, magazines, newspapers and even books.
I don't know if this exercise enables your disorder or provides therapy. Nor do I care. Have fun.
A blog devoted to writers and writing.
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2008
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April
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- Whom do you think you are?
- Error prone
- Intimidation
- Grammar trivia
- A number of items
- AP oopses
- Apostropheses'
- Apostrophe's and plural's
- Anxious for eager
- An answer, a puzzle and a tip
- A puzzle and a tip
- Answers
- Spot the error
- An assignment
- English OCD
- Irregardless
- Rules that aren't
- English pet peeves
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April
(18)
4 comments:
Okay, I just found this in the Paducah Sun (just kidding). I actually found it in a catalog of homes for sale. The ad described how conveniently close to amenities the house was located, urging, "don't buy further off!" So is this correct? Should "farther" have been used?
When speaking, I usually mumble something unintelligible that could be either word. Using the word(s) always feels awkward, so I'd appreciate some clarification.
I seem to frequently have grammar, punctuation and word usage questions, so I'll probably revisit from time to time. Thanks for providing a super service and a quick and entertaining education.
Mumbling Mary
In a gardening magazine -
"Try to use as many of the existing landscape elements and materials you already have to save money."
Am I the only person who shudders every time someone uses the first "as" without the second?
In a school newsletter -
"We would like to thank the ladies of our Copy Corp who come in for hours each week to do our copying."
I've tried correcting the person writing this, pointing out that it's not the Marine Corp and that Corp is an abbreviation for corporation, but to no avail.
You are correct. Farther refers to distance (Paris is farther than New York); further means "more" or "additional" (Her statement required no further comments).
For a list of hundreds of common errors check out Paul Brians' Common Errors in English Usage, book form or Web site. Just Google it.
Leaving out the second "as" forces the reader to search for it and reread the sentence trying to make sense of it.
At the newspaper we occasionally get letters or other submitted copy from Marines who refer to the Marine Corp. All they have to do is step outside and read the stickers on the back windows of their cars.
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