I Have {Typo} Issues

Typos drive me crazy.

Mine.

And other people’s.

It’s a gift and a curse that I see them.

I find typos in published bestsellers.

On CNN.

Restaurant menus. Signs. Flyers. Blogs.

Photo courtesy of victoriapeckham

It really should be my full-time job. Proofreader. I know people get paid for this. I’m not sure if it’s lucrative or how I break into the industry.

I’ve been a little too busy to find out. Raising our four darlings.

My real worry is that this next generation is at risk – the new school, text speak, computers, spell check and typing with two fingers are compromising our English skills.

My kids will tell you I’m a pretty big stickler for proofing their papers. Their very strict and old-fashioned years of elementary school set the foundation for my favorite kind of book learning. The kind where the teachers insist your handwriting is legible and your grammar is correct. Crazy, I know.

They are all excellent students with excellent writing skills. Because I think communication is pretty vital to your success both in school and life. (I’m still not sure how or why I needed Algebra as a life skill.) I am positive that good, basic English skills are used continuously throughout your life no matter what career path you choose.

I’m not an expert and I’m not the grammar police. In fact, part of the fun of blogging is to write in a conversational tone and throw out some of those old-fashioned grammar rules. Like…beginning a sentence with “And” which I love to do. And “Because” is my second favorite and I think it’s wrong too. Sometimes I get really wild and END a sentence with a preposition.

I know I make plenty of my own mistakes! But there are some common mistakes that are easily fixed and when I see them – they really add to my craziness. Maybe it’s the coma?

Seriously, I do remember how hard it was to write down the letters and the words after the head injury. And it gets progressively harder with old age.

But here are a few that really send me over the edge…

• your and you’re
• to and too
• there and their
• it’s and its
• a lot is two words

Photo courtesy of Jeffrey Beall

Don’t even get me started on the proper use of an apostrophe.

I think I’m going to start collecting my favorites and take screenshots when I see them on the web. It takes so very little to entertain me.

Last week, I saw these two on websites:

…I was hoping to here good news.

…taking an active roll in politics.

Anybody else see/read what I see?

Yeah, I know I’ve just opened myself up for critics, grammarians and proofreaders to have a field day with me and my blog.

Have at it. Bring it on. I’ll correct anything that needs correcting and probably learn a few more things in the process! I’m the first to admit it’s always harder to proof your own work than it is to proof someone else’s.

Cuz like I wanna make miself a more better righter.

Whatever. 😉