It happens to the best of us. Typos are everywhere. You run spellcheck, proof it twice, even put a second set of eyes on it – but a typo will eventually get you. Of course, if you’re not doing those things, then you’re at a much higher risk and without an excuse when the dreaded typo strikes. But if you do have a system in place to ensure your business communicates its messages clearly and accurately, then don’t be afraid to laugh it off if an occasional typo slips through. Hopefully, your typos aren’t as hilariously awful as these:
1. A political promotion for Mitt Romney was so patriotic it came up with its own spelling for this country, reading: “A Better Amercia.”
2. A company selling an educational program kind of shot themselves in the foot with the old they’re/their confusion in an advertisement that read: “So fun, they won’t even know their learning.”
3. In another ironic education fail, a campaign giveaway was emblazoned, “Student’s for McCain.”
4. In another apostrophe fail, an advertisement ironically read, “Perfection Has It’s Price.” Yes, apparently it does.
5. A street sign apparently took an interest in the local fauna, rather than the local traffic, reading: “Not a Through Toad.”
6. An online ad for a dental office had a rather gender-specific call to action: “Click her to visit our website.”
7. Then there’s the airport sign that referred to some rather naughty baggage, reading: “This baggage has been X-rated at point of origin.”
8. An unfortunate advertisement assured customers of the level of thoroughness and quality the company stood for by telling them they could ensure the “highest standards for every detal.” Ouch.
9. When writing a novel, it’s probably important to appeal to the more highbrow, intellectual, reading public. But one novelist seemed to go the other direction by titling the first section of his book, “Peeface.” Classy.
10. And last, but certainly our favorite, is the program for the commencement ceremony for the “School of Pubic Affairs.” Fortunately, the university was quick to apologize for the anatomical confusion, with this tweet: “Our deepest apologies to our 2012 graduates for the eggregious typo in our program.” Unfortunately, egregious has only one g in the first syllable, and appropriately, the word means, “outstandingly bad; shocking.”
Know of any random acts of typo that should be included in this list? Tell us in the comments!
