In terms of my grammar vandalism, I mostly go after businesses, news organizations and institutions of higher education. In my mind, these are the people who can afford to hire a copy editor. If you can hire a graphic designer, an advertising consultant or a spokesperson, then you can afford to pay an editor a one-time fee to glance over your work and add an apostrophe or two.
I could do that! If you have a business and are wondering if you’re using correct grammar, email me!
Once again, I digress.
These pictures were sent to me by Donna, an NPR fan who heard my broadcast. Take a close look at this cereal box:
First of all, I think it’s a bit disturbing to see the ubiquitous Amazon.com arrow. I’ve bought plenty of things on Amazon, but perishable food? That’s kind of creepy.
Look at the green writing. Babies Perfect First Solid Food.
Not good….
I’m imagining a cheerleader reciting the line. “BABIES! PERFECT! FIRST SOLID FOOD!”
I wasn’t sure if the original intent was to make it say Baby’s Perfect First Solid Food or Babies’ Perfect First Solid Food.
Before long, however, Earth’s Best changed the cereal box:
It was supposed to be Baby’s Perfect First Solid Food all along.
Technically, that’s grammatically correct, if a bit awkward-sounding and ancient.
I’m not a fan of that kind of phrasing: Baby’s First Bite. Baby’s Favorite Toy. And Baby Makes Three. To me, it sounds like it’s straight out of the 1950s, where you would see Baby’s Best Shampoo next to Rover’s Favorite Dish. Still, you see it a lot, even today.
Now it’s time for a question for you. What is the worst error you’ve seen on packaging?
Thanks, Donna.
This post had the potential to be funny however you took too long and too many detours making your point.
Amen to that, sister. That’s the problem (okay, one of them) with this whole blog. GV, get to the point!
I don’t agree with the above posters – I’m not sure how often you’re aiming for funny, and not every post has to be so – but an easy way to punch up the comedy would have been to point out how creepy those babies on the boxes are.
*shudder*
The part of Sharon V’s comment I was agreeing with was that this post (like most of GV’s posts) take too long to get to the point and tend to ramble on. For example, dry baby cereal isn’t actually all that perishable, so what the point of that little detour?
Point taken. I will try to be more brief with posts like these.
Also, probably don’t promote yourself as looking for editing gigs on a post that’s supposedly about an error on a baby food box.
Actually, I think it’s your — Kate’s — blog. If you want to turn a cereal box critique into a marketing plug for yourself, that’s your perogative. If it were me, I’d do it after showing off my cereal box-critiquing skills, but that’s just me.
I don’t think the post is too long, either. It depends what you are going for. There is nothing wrong with sending a diatribe or two out into the blogosphere. In fact, the way you are doing it — short, easy-to-scan paragraphs and relatively shorter sentences — is is correct for the web.
Seriously, people, this isn’t a contest to see who can out-criticize the Grammar Vandal. Lighten up!
“perogative”
Katherine,
Wasn’t “lighten up” the response from Mitt Romney when he was photographed with a sign equating Obama with Osama?
I agree that this isn’t a “bash the grammar vandal” contest. However, the point of the blog-o-sphere, to the extent that it has a point, is the interaction between the reader and the writer.
Kate put herself out here. She has received significant recognition for her efforts. Along with that public attention will come some critical commentary.
The test of the professionalism of any writer is their response to editing. Only a fool would not realize that improvements can be made in any writing. Only an amateur would reject the opportunity to grow. Frankly, from Kate’s own responses here, I think she seems open to improvement.
For example, she has realized that her beloved AP Style Guide is not the final word in all matters.
Honestly, I think that willingness to become better is a good thing.
Anonymous — “prerogative.”
Thanks for the catch. When I get all fired up I sometimes type too quickly and miss letters. :o)
Read — Sure, the blogosphere is about interaction. But that doesn’t mean I can’t defend someone when I see the need. In fact, the argument about the holiness of interaction actually supports my decision to respond to other posters’ comments.
I frequently see “everyday” used where the correct words are “every day.” While dining at Dairy Queen recently, I noticed the drink cups used it both ways. At least they are 50% correct!