Monday, February 22, 2010

Proofreading: It's Not in the Cards

Every blade of grass has it's angel that bends over it and whispers
The difference between "its" and "it's" was burned into my brain by an inept and sadistic 5th grade teacher, so I'm kind of sensitive on the topic.

But is it too much to ask that makers of greeting cards have a grammar curmudgeon read their cards before sending them to print?

Closeup of the error
Although, to be fair, it's a quote from the Talmud. The original Hebrew probably doesn't have this problem.

6 comments:

David Steinlicht said...

Not to mention the card's set in Ariel. But it could be worse . . . it could be set in Comic Sans or Papyrus.

Gill Sans would have been nice.

Michael Leddy said...

Are the large CAPS for whispering a joke, or just more bungling?

Daughter Number Three said...

David, it's good that it wasn't one of those two fonts, or my camera would have broken.

Michael, perhaps when angels whisper it comes out in all caps!

elena said...

Love the bungled whisper..GROW DAMMIT!

Ms Sparrow said...

I cringe at the use of, "If it was..." instead of "If it were...".
This was similarly burned into my consciousness by a professor who lectured me on the subjunctive mood. I had never heard of it, but I certainly never forgot it!

Daughter Number Three said...

I first heard of the subjunctive in French class, and have been playing catch-up on the English examples ever since.

I think the subjunctive is pretty much dead in general American usage, despite the efforts of your professor.