Among ourselves, we passionately discuss the inane errors that regularly find their way into print. We enthusiastically debate whether media consumers are oblivious, complacent, or just too lazy to demand accuracy. We “tweet” one another links to glaring grammar gaffes, upload to “flickr” photos of misspelled billboard messages, and post to “facebook” examples of problematic punctuation. We are alternately amused and dismayed by the rampant incompetence of advertising agencies, communications directors, and reputable publishers. We have plenty to say!

This weblog will collect and critique public language blunders, so grab your virtual red pen and join the conversation:

03 April 2011

Last Laugh


I'm sure that in a middle-school-boys'-locker-room way, the ad on the right is funny as it stands, but for me, hilarity did not ensue until some visionary editor placed it across the fold from the ad on the left. I think the only way Indiana Combat Veteran could have improved on this layout would have involved putting the "taps" column just above both. Seriously though, are VFW publications not subject to the same SAPP criteria as other military newspapers and magazines?

Of course, absurd advertising appears everywhere. Fort Wayne Newspapers, Inc. has begun promoting its Mother's Day tribute sections with a series of ads featuring captions that are more amusing than informative. This, we're told, is blonde Julie Smith's "actual vertical size" (poor thing), while brunette Julie Smith's "actual size will be larger" (let's hope so).

This weblog, on the other hand, will not be growing! Today's post will be my last--here anyway. Thanks to all who dropped by, and especially to those who left comments. It's been fun, but now that this class assignment is over, I'll be getting back to my "real" online writing projects: a diary/scrapbook/love letter to my grandson (in its third year) at HunterKnight.blogspot.com, an online portfolio of my daughter's sculpting and my son's painting projects at HuesByHughes.biz, a website for my sister's business at CornerVet.com, my police watchdog reports at AssholeCops.com, my genealogy at Roady.com and, of course, my business at the original PhantomScribe site, PhantomScribe.com. Please stop by!

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