Friday, January 30, 2009

Tim Horton's

-- Facebook advertisement on January 30, 2009

It irks me a little that people mistakenly put that apostrophe in there quite often, but when it's in their own advertisement with the logo pictured in the same ad showing no apostrophe, well, that irks me a lot

defencemen Lawrence Nycholat was placed on IR Wednesday with a groin injury

-- "Slumping squad makes Wild welcome" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 30, 2009

Firstly, the word defencemen should be defenceman. Lastly, a period is needed at the end, and not the twenty-minute nor biological kind.

give a 110 per cent

-- "Delta’s Berger lives the dream" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 30, 2009

In other words, "give a one hundred and ten per cent". Wrong, right? Please please please write either give a hundred and ten per cent or give 110 per cent. Do not mix the two.

Crowely Street

-- "Victim dies (need to know)" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 30, 2009

Compare the correct Crowley Drive with the incorrect Crowely Street. Not really close, eh?

deceased male."

-- "Tapes show YVR reaction to Taser hit" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 30, 2009

Missing: a closing single quotation mark. It didn't arrive within the double quotation marks before sentence's end?

Thursday, January 29, 2009

saying 'what are ya writing?' Or they'd come up to me and say 'You should do a show about my brother-in-law. That guy is a a------!"

-- "Butt of his own jokes" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 29, 2009

I've posted several of these quotes-of-the-article type of errors, but this one takes the cake. Why is copy-and-paste not a possibility? The first thing that caught my eye was the a a------! error (the article correctly has an), but upon further review, there's a plethora of errors. At the end of the purple-quoted text, there should be a single closing quotation mark before the double closing quotation mark. You know what, there are just too many differences between the article's text and the quoted text, so I leave it to you: How many differences can you spot?

they could of changed it

-- YouTube video comment on January 29, 2009

I normally don't include user comments from sites such as YouTube and Facebook, as people are generally writing quickly and aren't expected to be professional, but this one highlights a common mistake: could of instead of could have or could've. How can someone write it correctly and incorrectly just a few words apart? It boggles my mind.

FRANZ FERDINAD

-- TV schedule on NBC.com on January 29, 2009

Placing an N directly before the second D would change the surname to FERDINAND, which happens to be the correct spelling.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

beleagured; beleaugered

click image to enlarge

-- "Take part in our online poll" in The Vancouver Courier on January 16, 2009

Two attempts, two fails. The second attempt came close to the correct beleaguered, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. Exact same text appeared in the paper's next edition five days later.

Balitmore

-- "Lineup" in Sports Illustrated on December 22, 2008

Tunrs out the Ravesn' defnese was the NLF's best.

"We were surprised at how little aggression there was."

-- "Happy New Year" in Sports Illustrated on December 29, 2008

One might think that the aggression quote was said by Zawistowski. But, no. As you can see in the article's text, the goofy dogs quote was indeed said by Zawistowski, while the aggression quote was said by Reynolds.

perenial playoff pretender

-- "Who to watch down the stretch" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 28, 2009

Who can spell perennial correctly?

a defining moments in history

-- "Moved by his words" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 28, 2009

The word a is singular. The word moments is plural. Omit the s and then there's agreement.

not the affects of a late night helping

-- "New hope springs forward" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 28, 2009

The word affect is a verb. The word effect is a noun. The writer should have used the plural form of the latter, not the former.

For more photos of the twins first foray in public, check out or gallery

-- "Hello Tokyo (People)" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 28, 2009

Make that the twins' first foray and our gallery and then I still won't go to that webpage.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

You're little girl is so cute

-- "Clean up a hairy situation" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 27, 2009

That is a painful opening line to an article. I was half expecting it to be an article about education/grammar. Actually, more like quarter expecting - it is 24 hours after all. The article's subject is children's hairstyles. Here's a screenshot of the newspaper's homepage, which links to the article:

dogged by rumours of an impending split ever August

-- "split denied (People) in Vancouver 24 hours on January 27, 2009

Maybe the younger woman's name is August. Sure, the sentence still wouldn't make sense, but it could be a subconscious reveal by the writer. More likely the word since should be before August.

Santiago, Chile is unique; with it's modern skyscrapers; panaoramic views

click image to enlarge

-- "Walking the barrios of Santiago, Chile" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 27, 2009

There should be a comma after Chile in the bold opening. The writer correctly writes with its colonial architectural gems, but then writes with it's modern skyscrapers in the very same sentence! In the photo caption there is an interesting, albeit incorrect, take on the word panoramic.

Seasame Street's Elmo and Oscar the Grouch

-- "Love strikes Sacred Heart (On the Tube)" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 27, 2009

"Open sesame" "Open sez a who?" "Open sez a ME!"

Monday, January 26, 2009

they will have something they pull off the shelf

-- "Ferries a back plan for 2010?" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 26, 2009

Once again, 24 hours has misquoted its own article, this time by inserting the word will and omitting the word can.

the thieve's speed; where security [huge white space] patrolled

-- "James robbed in Surrey" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 26, 2009

As entertained as I am by thieve's and by the huge white space between security and patrolled, they are still errors.

assaulted by a young man as see was walking

-- "VPD seek suspect in sexual assaults" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 26, 2009

Can you spot the error?

sounds like you're saying the "f" word

-- "Britney Spears New Song 'If U Seek Amy': What Does it Mean?!" in The Post Chronicle online on January 26, 2009

No, it sounds like you're spelling the "f" word, which is more subtle than making you say the "f" word. I'm a fan of the song's title.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

a competition to crowns Canada's most spirited hockey community

-- "Terrace, B.C., unveiled as Hockeyville finalist" on Sympatico / MSN Sports on January 25, 2009

I'd like to crown the writer, if you know what I mean.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

SNEAK A PEAK

click image to enlarge

-- "In the city" in Westender on January 22, 2009

The misspelling of peek is often found in close proximity to sneak. I wonder if the writer would correctly spell peek in sneak's absence.

In 199,1 the Canadian band

-- "Canadians today take it on the chin without complaint" in The Vancouver Courier on January 23, 2009

Premature punctuation.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Grame McRanor

-- "Sting in the tale" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 22, 2009

I usually make a point of keeping the name of the writer out of the image, but I can't really do that when it's the name of the writer that contains the error. His first name is Graeme.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

tonight's game against the Canucks

-- "Happy returns? (sports briefs)" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 21, 2009

The paper came out today and the Canucks played the Sharks last night. A game summary that includes the fact that Lemieux played is right next to the above blurb. I think the should be before San Jose Sharks.

this was a window for her to make a carer move

-- "Top bureaucrat takes her leave" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 21, 2009

Once again, the quoted text is different from the article. Firstly, this is becomes this was. Secondly, career becomes carer.

Cowards inquest; Laura Eileen Cowards

-- "Cowards inquest" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 21, 2009

Her name has no s.

ABOUT 100 POEOPLE

-- "Canadians gather to welcome Obama" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 21, 2009

The article says 400 people were at the event, while the caption says that 100 poeople were there. Could any of the attendees hear the heartbeat coming from the floorboard?

unless she wants to.; lost her virginity to at the age of 14

-- "Brit to tell all - for a mere $20 million" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 21, 2009

The paragraph that goes from the left column to the right should have a closing quotation mark at the end of it. Omit to in the final sentence and it's golden.

Next Canucks' game

-- "'nuck talk" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 20, 2009

There shouldn't be an apostrophe. Consider, Next Lightning's game.

Where were you when for President Barack Obama's inauguration?

-- "Obamania rides northern wave" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 20, 2009

Ugh. Proofread!

watch the Obama's inauguration

-- "Obamania rides northern wave" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 20, 2009

Is this a compromise between watch the inauguration and watch Obama's inauguration?

Monday, January 19, 2009

test your IQ - Its fun

-- www.trivia-win.com advertisement on YouTube on January 19, 2009

When you click the image the first page that comes up has the bubble text correctly written as, Let's test your IQ - It's FUN! What - they needed to dumb it down for the YouTube demographic?

and its time to get yourself; "over the hill:"

-- "Keep your resume current" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 19, 2009

It's time to place an apostrophe in its and to move the colon to after the closing quotation mark.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

coun-terintuitive

-- "Bored in Bed?" on Yahoo! Canada Lifestyle on January 18, 2009

Throw a dart and put the hyphen where the dart sticks.

a hamurger

-- Yahoo! Canada homepage on January 18, 2009

I wouldn't dump a friend for a hamburger, or a slice of pizza, or even a bag of potato chips. For a hamurger, though? Tell me more.

other unforseen issues

click image to enlarge

-- FAQ page of The Ride to Conquer Cancer on January 18, 2009

There are issues with the spelling of unforeseen.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Brooklyns Finest

-- "Buzz at Sundance" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 16, 2009

The bottom of the y from buyers' is almost low enough to double as an apostrophe in what should be Brooklyn's, but not quite.

tonight and tomorow

-- "THE BOYS ARE BACK! (After Six: Shows)" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 16, 2009

I've looked all over - where r you?

straight couple in there 40s

-- "Coffee shop musings on a thriving community" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 16, 2009

Here a homophone, there a homophone, everywhere a homophone homophone.

the victim may have known

-- "Caught on tape (need to know)" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 16, 2009

Three people get assaulted but only one is a victim. Why?

Thursday, January 15, 2009

indeed, tonight night marks Grissom's departure

-- "Good bye, Gil" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 15, 2009

Makes me think of the ending of "All Tore Up" by The Tragically Hip:

tonight's the night; tonight's the night, tonight; tonight's the night; tonight; tonight tonight tonight; tonight's the night, tonight; tonight tonight tonight; tonight's the night; tonight; tonight tonight tonight

easy-to-implment

-- "10 tips on photographing children" on Sympatico / MSN Tech & Gadgets on January 13, 2009

Hey Vanna, I'd like to buy a vowl.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

McDonalds

-- "Calorie counting" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 14, 2009

An apostrophe is needed to make it correctly punctuated as McDonald's.

click 'start at workout'

-- "Sweatin' to technology" in Vancouver 24 hours on January 14, 2009

The green text misquotes Mohan and the article itself.

to get tickets before their sold out

-- Facebook ad on January 14, 2009

Maybe the band will compromise their integrity, morality and principles in exchange for money, success or other personal gain (according to Wikipedia's Selling out page). Or maybe the word their should be they're.