AS A WRITER, I VALUE GREATLY THE ART OF COMMUNICATION. I know how dangerous it can be when trying to convey a message that is worthwhile. One slip up and the consequences can be dreadful. For example, what you mean to say and what actually is said can be at odds. Wise is the person who carefully proof texts his document before it is published. Otherwise, he/she may have egg on their face. Case in point: A newspaper in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1978, tried to correct a classified ad as follows:
The ad, as it was first printed, said, quote: The Rev. A.J. Jones has color TV set for sale. Telephone 555-1313 after 7:00 P.M. and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who lives with him, cheap.
So the next day the paper printed a correction, quote: We regret any embarrassment caused to Rev. Jones by a typographical error in yesterday’s editions. It should have read, “The Rev. A.J. Jones has color TV set for sale, cheap. Telephone 555-1313 and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who lives with him after 7:00 P.M.”
Then the next day, the paper said: The Rev. A.J. Jones informs us he has received several annoying telephone calls because of an incorrect advertisement in yesterday’s paper. It should have read, “The Rev. A.J. Jones has color TV set for sale. Cheap. Telephone after 7:00 P.M. 555-1313 and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who loves with him.”
One day later…”Please take notice that I, the Rev. Jones, have no TV set for sale. I have smashed it. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Donnelley. She was until yesterday, my housekeeper.”
A few days later another ad appeared (this is hard to believe): WANTED a housekeeper. Telephone the Rev. A.J. Jones 555-1313. Usual housekeeping duties, good pay, love in.
Now let’s consider who this gaff affected: (1) the guy who wrote the ad--- can you imagine his frustration? (2) the one who does the proof reading who was probably fired; (3) the editor on whose desk the buck stops (a law suit was no doubt pending); the minister (I hope he practices what he preaches on forgiveness); the housekeeper who probably can’t find another position.
Moral: Words improperly arranged can be devastating. Look carefully before you leap into the pit of prose.
The ad, as it was first printed, said, quote: The Rev. A.J. Jones has color TV set for sale. Telephone 555-1313 after 7:00 P.M. and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who lives with him, cheap.
So the next day the paper printed a correction, quote: We regret any embarrassment caused to Rev. Jones by a typographical error in yesterday’s editions. It should have read, “The Rev. A.J. Jones has color TV set for sale, cheap. Telephone 555-1313 and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who lives with him after 7:00 P.M.”
Then the next day, the paper said: The Rev. A.J. Jones informs us he has received several annoying telephone calls because of an incorrect advertisement in yesterday’s paper. It should have read, “The Rev. A.J. Jones has color TV set for sale. Cheap. Telephone after 7:00 P.M. 555-1313 and ask for Mrs. Donnelley who loves with him.”
One day later…”Please take notice that I, the Rev. Jones, have no TV set for sale. I have smashed it. I have not been carrying on with Mrs. Donnelley. She was until yesterday, my housekeeper.”
A few days later another ad appeared (this is hard to believe): WANTED a housekeeper. Telephone the Rev. A.J. Jones 555-1313. Usual housekeeping duties, good pay, love in.
Now let’s consider who this gaff affected: (1) the guy who wrote the ad--- can you imagine his frustration? (2) the one who does the proof reading who was probably fired; (3) the editor on whose desk the buck stops (a law suit was no doubt pending); the minister (I hope he practices what he preaches on forgiveness); the housekeeper who probably can’t find another position.
Moral: Words improperly arranged can be devastating. Look carefully before you leap into the pit of prose.
posted by kazookid | 9:32 AM
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