Dorothy’s Place – Proofreading, A Dying Art

By Dorothy Denne

Last week I shared, from my e-mails, some blunders that had the possibility of sending the wrong message. Many of you said they made you chuckle.
I never want to miss an opportunity to make you chuckle so I was prompted to share the following headlines that show proofreading gone awry, or should that be away?! Unfortunately, proofreading is a dying art these days.
Chuckle at the headlines and enjoy the accompanying comments too.
Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter (this appeared in a local paper-not the Weekly)
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says (Really? Ya think?)
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers (Now that’s taking things a bit far!)
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over (What a guy!)
Miners Refuse to Work after Death (lazy so-and-so’s)
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant (See if that works any better than a fair trial!)
War Dims Hope for Peace(I can see where it might have that effect.)
If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile (Ya think?)
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures (Who would have thought!)
Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide (They may be on to something!)
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges (You mean there’s something stronger that duct tape?)
Man Struck By Lightning:Faces Battery Charge (He probably IS the battery charge.)
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group (Weren’t they fat enough?)
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft (That’s what he gets for eating those beans!)
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks (Do they taste like chicken?)
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half (Chainsaw Massacre all over again!)
Hospitals are Sued by 7 Foot Doctors (Boy, are they tall!)
and the winner is….
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
Yep, me thinks proofreading is a dying art!

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