SpellCheck Assistant

When a spell check fails leaving a spelling mistake on a resume, there is little chance of getting hired. When “misspelled” is misspelled on an English term paper, a good grade is not forthcoming. These are not laughing matters. However, when a spelling mistake appears on a billboard, chuckles are guaranteed.

The internet is replete with pictures of signs and billboards containing unfortunate misspellings. One would think that commercial operations are the most likely candidates to own a powerful spellchecker, but the following examples seem to indicate otherwise.

Take the ice machine at the end of the third-floor, motel hallway for example. Searching only for additives to his liquid refreshment, one unsuspecting traveler found the following sign posted proudly on the machine—“Ice Scube.” The only good thing about the situation was that the man was carrying his camera phone.

Spelling mistakes can be ironic. Driving along, a woman came to a four-way-stop. Unsure of where she was, she peeked at the street sign posted on the corner. Chagrined, the cross-street sign was for the driveway to “Cathedral Grammer School.”

Sometimes spelling mistakes can lower expectations, even if they were not very high at the outset. Consider the custom tee-shirt worn by Paris Hilton that read “Thats hot!” on the front. The punctuation error alone was a real downer. However, as Paris turned away from the paparazzi, the rest of the story was revealed. On the back of the shirt, printed in all capital letters, was the phrase “Your not!” Paris may need to direct her fashion designer to an internet spell check program.

Protesters are symbols of democracy in action. To be an effective symbol, however, requires the use of an effective sign. As of today, magic markers do not come equipped with a spellchecker. Unfortunately for one protester, a hasty job resulted in some laughter of the ironic variety. Held proudly at the front of the picket line, the sign read “Teach our children reading, writing, arithetic, not gambling.”

Businesses definitely take top prize when it comes to public spelling mistakes. Perhaps it is the shock of viewing an error on what is most likely a pricey advertising media that makes the situation more humorous. The sign at the allergist’s office that reads “Stress less, sneaze less” does not instill confidence. A placard in a grocery store is unlikely to elicit hunger when it reads “Pork Boneless Lions.” These are spelling mistakes with potential financial consequences, but perhaps a good laugh makes for happy customers.

No one is immune to spelling errors. Computer programs are equipped with a spell check for a reason. Although misspellings are common everywhere, nothing catches the eye like a big, bold sign. As long as one can laugh at their own mistakes, it does not hurt to giggle a bit when the ceramic mug you ordered from you Ivy League alma mater arrives with “Harvard Universty” emblazoned on the front. Perhaps Harvard needs to find a good internet spell check as well.