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Spelling errors, grammar mistakes, punctuation misuse, and an overreliance on technology have all resulted in some pretty serious proofreading disasters. Smarty-pants like us see these “fails” and shake our heads wondering, “How did no one notice that?”
Whenever I see grammar mistakes, misplaced punctuation, and spelling snafus online or in my local grocery store, I cringe. But then I remember that’s why we’re here. The world needs proofreaders like us to save them from these eyesores. #jobsecurityforlife
That being said, I do enjoy a good laugh! Here are some of the most hilarious grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes I’ve ever seen. Sit back, relax, and get ready to laugh!
(BTW, have you ever struggled to spell hilarious? It trips me up sometimes!)
Quotation Marks Gone Wrong
So… aliens?
These are classic examples of quotation mark misuse! The unnecessary quotation marks on the sign, I have come to expect. Your guess is as good as mine as to why this punctuation issue almost always happens on signs.
But the unnecessary quotation marks on the magazine cover? Shame on them! Apparently, they had their reasons for using quotation marks, but they probably should have given it a bit more thought.
Forget the Apostrophes
I really hope this isn’t from the English teacher!
I don’t want to bash teachers here because they work very hard. But somebody, whether it’s their parents or their teachers, needs to show kids the right ways to use an apostrophe. This cute book will help young kids learn about punctuation through fun rhyming poems.
This type of apostrophe misuse bothers me so much I made it rule #1 in my how not to use an apostrophe blog post!
They’re, Their, and There
Homophones are tricky! They’re pronounced alike but have different meanings and spelling.
Mixing up they’re, their, and there is one of the most common homophone mistakes. If you find yourself needing to explain it to someone, here’s the difference:
- There = that place
- Their = belongs to them
- They’re = contraction of “they are”
Got kids? Buy them this book! It’s an EXCELLENT choice for kids and adults alike. You’re guaranteed to learn something you didn’t already know about soundalike words!
There Are No Spelling Bee Winners Here
What meanie told this person not to have a great day?! Ignore the hater and have an AWESOME day!
I have to admit “definitely” is a tricky word to spell. It’s one of those words you just have to sound out in your head as you spell it.
Ummm… You may want to rethink that, Mr. Chicken.
I think he would have had second thoughts if he’d known what was coming next!
There’s a threat to the Christmas spirit! And it’s not cheap!
Sense Check
I get where they’re coming from with this statement, but they may want to reword it. However, it is proof that two things are inevitable: death and taxes!
This one cracks me up! I can forgive the typo in the word “birthday,” but what were they thinking when they iced the words “Mark with The Sea”!
Our Take
Word nerds unite! I love sharing my word nerdiness with you guys! Not many people out there get as hot and bothered as we do about grammar, so it’s fun to have a safe place to share our grammar woes. We could use a few more of us in the world, right?!
Your Turn
Do you have a grammar or punctuation pet peeve? Share it with me in the comments! ?
If you want to learn even more about apostrophes, quotation marks, and other grammar-related fun, be sure to check out my FREE workshop. You can use those grammar skills to start your own freelance proofreading business!
Someone told me on the ARMY’s AMINO app:
Person: what’s you’re problem
Me: apparently I am LOL ?
Person: what
Me: “you are” I’m not my own problem ?
This one isn’t a misspelling, but it’s noteworthy, and I was there when it happened.
Had a client, a mid-level manufacturer here in Japan, whose president had spent two or three years in the UK, so he was convinced he was fluent in English. It was time for a new ad campaign, and he wanted to convey that his company led the industry.
He suggested a visual of geese in a v-formation along with the phrase, “We break the wind.”
“Mark with the Sea” – my guess is that the person ordered the cake over the phone and said: “Mark with a ‘C'”, meaning the guy’s name should’ve been spelled ‘Marc’. However, phonetically, it sounds like what was written instead.
My favorite was seeing a sign on a restaurant that said, “Drive Through Window”. It means something entirely different without the hyphen.
That’s so true, Harry! Thanks for sharing!