Writing Without Waffle
Spot the deliberate mitsake
In normal reading, you look at the overall shape of the word, not each individual letter. It’s why words written in ALL CAPS are harder to read. For example, the word “juggling” looks completely different in lower case, as shown. Readers usually fix their eyes on the print only a Read more…
Writing Without Waffle
Have you seen my boobs? Lessons about the importance of proofreading.
Proofreading is important, because people judge you by the accuracy of your written communications. Here are my favourite examples of when writing has gone horribly wrong. Daily Mail article Britain’s biggest-selling hill-walking magazine apologised yesterday after publishing a route that would have led climbers off the edge of a cliff. Read more…
Good, bad and ugly ads
There are times
when you really should be more careful with your proofreading. I tried to contact them to let them know, but I don’t plan to phone the US from the UK, there was no email address and the contact form wasn’t working (in Safari). Strangely (?), the web developer’s name was Read more…
Writing Without Waffle
14 ways to proofread your copy
There seems to be an annoying little gremlin that delights in creeping into your copy and adding mistakes in the hope that you won’t notice. And you can’t trust spell-cheque [sic]. Years ago, I was tasked to write a ‘romantic’ jewellery leaflet. I wrote the headings in French but then Read more…
Wordy humour
The the impotence of proofreading
Warning: contains rude words! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OonDPGwAyfQ&w=425&h=349]
Wordy humour
My favourite mitsakes
US magazine ‘Easy Sky Diving’ Please make the following correction. On page 8 line 7, ‘state zip code’ should read ‘pull rip cord’. Sunday Express On page 35 of this week’s section 3 we feature a recipe for lemon tart. Readers should note that, while the method is correct, the Read more…
Good, bad and ugly ads
Deer Peepol, if u karnt spel, pleez yooz a pruufreeder
This is from the front page of my local paper. Apart from the questionable name – Ladyzone?! – I don’t think I want to look or feel ‘FANSTASTIC’ anytime, thank you.