We are beside ourselves. Behold the following "Middle America" entry from the Thesaurus.com application on Dictionary.com, which cites the 2008 edition of Roget's New Millennium Thesaurus as its source:
Main Entry: Middle America
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: general populice
Synonyms: bourgeoisie, silent majority, subtopia, suburbia, the burbs
Perhaps, like us, you realize that it is unconscionable for a dictionary to have a spelling error, even if said dictionary is online (although it should be noted that Dictionary.com purports to draw from, and rigorously cites, renowned published dictionaries). Perhaps, this discovery has shaken you to your very foundations and you find yourself wondering aloud, "If one cannot trust the dictionary, whom can one trust?" Rest assured, dear readers, when all else fails, The Grammar Wall of Shame will not let you down.
This is only the second offense in The Grammar Wall of Shame's history to merit the designation, We Are (Almost) Speechless. If it pleases you to replay in your mind the scene from Mary Poppins where Mr. Banks is thrown out of the bank, substituting Dictionary.com for Mr. Banks, please do so.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Monday, February 11, 2008
Who but the AP?
We came across this surprising slip-up in an AP article on FoxSports.com titled, "Zednik awake after surgery on severed artery":
"Attending surgeon Sonya Noor said there were no initial signs of brain damage, which is a fear whenever the coratid artery is clamped."
Some readers might be tripped up by what they perceive to be a spelling error; however, we at The Grammar Wall of Shame can only stand in wonder at the marvels of modern medical-metaphysical mastery, wherein doctors can perform elaborate surgeries on body parts that do not exist. We're not sure which degree program prepares eager young minds for such feats, but it sounds...challenging. Is challenging the word we're looking for?
For this error, the AP is awarded a C for Creative Spelling and the following Drunken Proofreading rating:
*** (three stars) - I needed a shot just to look myself in the mirror this morning.
"Attending surgeon Sonya Noor said there were no initial signs of brain damage, which is a fear whenever the coratid artery is clamped."
Some readers might be tripped up by what they perceive to be a spelling error; however, we at The Grammar Wall of Shame can only stand in wonder at the marvels of modern medical-metaphysical mastery, wherein doctors can perform elaborate surgeries on body parts that do not exist. We're not sure which degree program prepares eager young minds for such feats, but it sounds...challenging. Is challenging the word we're looking for?
For this error, the AP is awarded a C for Creative Spelling and the following Drunken Proofreading rating:
*** (three stars) - I needed a shot just to look myself in the mirror this morning.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
It's that time of year again!
We found this example of AutoCorrect Syndrome in an article titled, "Romney suspends presidential campaign":
"He then told the crowd he disagrees with McCain on a number of issues, but that he'd given the mater a lot of thought and if he fought on all the way to the Republican convention, 'I forestall the launch of a national campaign and frankly I'd be making it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win.'"
Breaking news from the AP: Mitt Romney really loves his mother. We find that to be very moving, although we fail to see what she has to do with the campaign. Wait, is something Manchurian going on here? Somebody check the location of Angela Lansbury.
For this little slip-up, we hereby award the AP an Oops! Is my lazy showing?, a Totally Giggleworthy, and the following Drunken Proofreading rating:
**** (four stars) - Yesh, I take thish waterbottle everywhere I go. It'sh water. No, you can't have any.
"He then told the crowd he disagrees with McCain on a number of issues, but that he'd given the mater a lot of thought and if he fought on all the way to the Republican convention, 'I forestall the launch of a national campaign and frankly I'd be making it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win.'"
Breaking news from the AP: Mitt Romney really loves his mother. We find that to be very moving, although we fail to see what she has to do with the campaign. Wait, is something Manchurian going on here? Somebody check the location of Angela Lansbury.
For this little slip-up, we hereby award the AP an Oops! Is my lazy showing?, a Totally Giggleworthy, and the following Drunken Proofreading rating:
**** (four stars) - Yesh, I take thish waterbottle everywhere I go. It'sh water. No, you can't have any.
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