My friend Beverly forwarded this to me in an email. I don't know who wrote it or where the headlines came from. I just know I loved it and it made me laugh. I googled the phrase " proofreading is a dying art" and found that this bit of prose has been circulating around the net from blog to blog and forum to forum for some time. It's like that commencement speech about sunscreen from the '90's.
But what the heck-- here it is one more time.
Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter
This one I caught in the SGV Tribune the other day and called the Editorial Room and asked who wrote this. It took two or three readings before the editor realized that what he was reading was impossible!!! They put in a correction the next day.
I just couldn't help but send this along. Too funny.
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
No-good-for-nothing' 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 than 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
Did I read that right?
******************************
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
No-good-for-nothing' 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 than 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
Did I read that right?
******************************
5 comments:
Location, location, location. UK headlines commonly look like proofing errors to non-Brits. For instance, "Juvenile court to try shooting defendant" makes perfect sense if you're aware the type of crime usually appears immediately before the word "defendant". In this case, a juvenile was on trial for shooting someone. Any time you need a good laugh, go to BBC News or the Guardian online and peruse the titles of stories from inside the UK.
Some of the examples here **are** proofing oopses, my favorite being "Red tape holds up bridge" and the line about duct tape. Funnnny!
Thanks for the laugh :)
Remarkable :)
To find out where most of these headlines come from, pick up a copy of "Anguished English" by Richard Lederer.
thanks for the comments all and I'm off to order " Anguished English" Thanks for letting me know the source of these headlines.
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