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MOCAŠ

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...not on the forum this time, but in published media.

I've just seen a TV advert for the LG Optimus smartphone, with a caption stating that "Application accessibility is dependant on network coverage." Last week there was an advert in the Metro freesheet for a limited edition Mazda 2, comparing its specification with that of the "Volkswagon Golf." Meanwhile a BBC news bulletin featured a prominent caption about the percentage of the population "effected" by a medical condition and Channel 4 chipped in by adding the word "focussed" to the English language.

Don't these companies/broadcasters get anyone to proofread their adverts and captions before releasing them? Or is it that the people doing the checking are themselves the product of a broken education system?
 
I have written to the BBC numerous times about the atrocious spelling on their websites - of course, no response and no improvement.
 
"specialism" is cropping up everywhere now.
 
Just remembered another example from a few years ago. Full-page advert in a car magazine, asserting that whatever car it was made mincemeat of its rivals, but illustrating the metaphor with a plate of... minced meat. :doh:
 
mmm, one should never blend one's metaphors...
 
corned said:
But what you say cannot possibly be right.

Examination results are getting better year on year, not worse!

Oh - hang on a minute...
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Indeed. Just alighted on a programme called "Are You Smarter Than A 10-Year Old" while channel-hopping. The adult contestant (Lisa) was asked to find the mean of 15, 3, 11, 9 and 2. This threw her, as she didn't know what the term "mean" meant. She asked to see one of the 10-year old's answers, which was correct, then declared that this was still no help to her.

Meanwhile, a caption revealed that she had an A Level in Maths, and I believe the presenter mentioned that she was a tutor. Now, that's rather alarming.
 
I was sent a link to the "Stig revelation" story at the Daily Mail website, where I read that he was famous for wearing "white overalls and a blacked-out visa." Doubly amusing given the whole identity kerfuffle.

Then, on their homepage I spotted a prominent headline announcing: "The man who fell 40 stories and lived!" The mistake is repeated in the headline on the article itself, the name of the web page and twice within the text of the article, yet whoever wrote the picture captions managed to spell it correctly.

Think I'll apply to be their proof-reader...
 
A met an academic who told me they often use the term impactful although it isn't actually a word in the English language...
 
MOCAŠ said:
I was sent a link to the "Stig revelation" story at the Daily Mail website, where I read that he was famous for wearing "white overalls and a blacked-out visa." Doubly amusing given the whole identity kerfuffle.

Then, on their homepage I spotted a prominent headline announcing: "The man who fell 40 stories and lived!" The mistake is repeated in the headline on the article itself, the name of the web page and twice within the text of the article, yet whoever wrote the picture captions managed to spell it correctly.

Think I'll apply to be their proof-reader...
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I suspect they use spellcheck, which would not pick up on stories as it is the correct spelling, just the wrong word. My fat fingers quite often spell out instead of our, r and t being next to each other, spellcheck never picks that up either, not even in grammar check.
 
I am constantly having to override the 'Americanisms' that the spellchecker on my iPhone tries to force upon me .

A lot of it , I suspect , has to do with American English .
 
A building site foreman, alarmed at the inability of his workers to read the prominent safety notices scattered round the site insisted that all new workers had to read and sign a hazard waver form before being taken on. When the first Irishman signed on the foreman was somewhat alarmed to find the man had left 3 large X's on the signature line. On being challenged, Paddy explained "Sure now, the first X is me given name, and the second X is me family name."----- "But what's the third X for?" the foreman asked. "Oh that's easy!" Paddy replies "That's my degree from Oxford University"

ps in keeping with current legislation please substitute your own ethic group and academic institution in this joke.:rolleyes:
 
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I've been known to complain to a manager at Tesco about the "10 items or less" signs. What the hell is wrong with the word fewer; it seems to be falling out of use?
 
312 Sprinter said:
I've been known to complain to a manager at Tesco about the "10 items or less" signs. What the hell is wrong with the word fewer; it seems to be falling out of use?
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I know, it is being used by less people...


:D
 
One of my biggest gripes is when people say 'I, personally-'. What does this mean????? :wallbash:It is the same as saying 'I, I' or 'personally, personally'. Another American phrase that has found it's way into our beloved language.....:doh:
 
sweetpea said:
One of my biggest gripes is when people say 'I, personally-'. What does this mean????? :wallbash:It is the same as saying 'I, I' or 'personally, personally'. Another American phrase that has found it's way into our beloved language.....:doh:
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One wonders... is 'I, personally..' the opposite of 'I, collectively..' ? :confused:
 
Which leads nicely on to the Incorrect use of "I" and "me". A pet hate.

The other is the use of an adverb before a the word "unique". Such as, "very unique" or "most unique". Unique means one of a kind. Either something is unique or it isn't. You cannot qualify it. So just say unique if that's what you mean.
 
I like to boldly go and criticise people who split their infinitives.
 
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