You know, sometimes I think that I’ll never find another pet peeve. Then I end up searching lowes.com for an ice maker (don’t ask). While searching for ice makers, here is what popped up instead:
Ooh, I hate it when people call it ice tea. It is not simply tea made of ice — it is tea that has had been iced and therefore iced tea.
At times, it seems like more people are saying ice tea than iced tea, at least up here in the northeast. (I’m pretty sure that sweet tea is the term preferred in the southern and midwestern states.)
The fact that either Lowes or the manufacturers spelled this wrong only perpetuates this myth.
I got a flat tire on the highway the other day. The experience was terrifying, especially considering that I drove on the rim for much further than anyone should have.
I took my car into the shop and found out that in addition to needing a new tire, my shocks are completely worn down and my front bumper is coming apart.
In short, I’m lucky that I got the flat when I did. It could have been deadly.
But repairing the damage will cost me nearly $500.00.
I have much more than enough saved away to pay for it, but even so…
Do you have anything that needs to be edited? I will gladly edit for a reasonable price. I do all kinds of work. I once even edited a one-page letter to a congregation of a church in Iowa for a few dollars.
Just drop me an email at kate.mcculley [at] gmail.com. I’ll give you an estimate.
I think that by this point in time, we’ve learned not to rely on Google Translate or other online translation aids. They’re wrong more often than not. I occasionally use Google Translate at work when I need to speak Spanish or Portuguese to a foreign vendor (I usually don’t need it for French or Italian).
Reader Christina, the German Grammar Vandal, sent me a great sign translated to English from Italian.
In Italian, the same word means pump and bomb. Additionally, the word spia means spy or control lamp. You have three guesses as to which words were used:
Kind of creepy!
I’d like to share my favorite story of a bad translation. I hope you enjoy it. It still makes me blush today.
In my French 4 class in high school, we read La Belle et La Bête, or Beauty and the Beast. We had to write a paper about it a few days later.
In my paper, I wrote, “Elle voit l’ane de la Bête et elle devient amoureuse.” I thought that I had written, “She sees the Beast’s soul and falls in love with him.”
Well, that’s not quite right. What I should have written was, “Elle voitl’ame de la Bête.”
My paper read, “She sees the Beast’s ass and falls in love with him.”
I have to give Mr. Porter credit — he did nothing but circle the word in red. I turned the same shade of red after realizing what I had written. I couldn’t look him in the eye for quite some time.
I love this picture. My friend Erica (click the link if you’re a fan of Full House!) directed me to the Peeps Diorama Contest through the Washington Post. This one was a finalist. (My favorites are #34, “Project Peepway,” and #33, “No Country for Old Peeps.”)
I know that this isn’t professional writing, but…
If you entered a contest, especially one seen by a wide audience, wouldn’t you be sure to spell everything correctly?
I think it’s a bit tough to notice on this particular picture, since I had to resize it, but the bottom line says To boldly go where no Peep has gone before…staring in “The Trouble with Tribbles” episode.
I think that’s supposed to be starting, though starring could work as well.
I hope those of you who celebrated the holiday enjoyed it, and that you all are enjoying your weekend!
I’m a big fan of someecards.com, a Web site with some of the funniest e-cards I’ve ever seen. My friends and my co-workers are big fans. Check it out!
This one is perfect for all of us:
Now, I have a question for you:
Has poor grammar, syntax, spelling or word choice damaged a friendship or relationship of yours?
For me, I wouldn’t say that it outright damaged a relationship, but I do have friends who use “your” and “you’re” interchangeably in emails and it drives me insane. I will go so far to say that I don’t email them as often as I do my friends who write well.
I’m watching American Idol right now and a commercial just came on for Milla Jovovich’s new clothing line at Target. In the commercial, Milla and her design partner, Carmen Hawk, describe their designs.
The line features 1930s-style flowers incorporated in 1970s ways. Milla then describes the line in a few words: “It’s whimsical; it’s fun; it’s ironic.”
Ironic.
This is one of my biggest pet peeves. It seems like the word is only used correctly about 10% of the time.
(I can’t tell you how many times Paula Abdul has said things like, “I find it really ironic that you choose a song that would be so good for you!”)
So, this clothing line is ironic? It’s entirely possible. I’m sure there is a way to find this clothing line ironic.
