tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749Tue, 23 Apr 2013 14:24:18 +0000lookingbaitedquotationamidmisspellingjenna bushcelebrity namesdrugserveddamagesap stylemr. rewritegrammar mistakedaylightgrizzlymisspelled celebrity namewimbeldonnonprofitteaminglighteningfannie maevalentinesyour'sspellingincorrectmisspelledhausgreenlightsavingsillegal immigrationbusessearchingabbreviationit'staxpayer's dimesex in the citybuscesariantryingbernankeeagerpresidential campaign viralwhilejuly fourthsectionat worstmisspellingseverydayspelling errors. useless quotation markseffectbatedwimbledoncapitalstaunchchicago manual of styleembarassmentbeaumtvtacticwhilstdan quayleredundantnountactcordcd'sbarack obamaitsbowblocpotatoetotaledadjectiveband togethercomplementsfallacyph.d.'serrortow the linespacepressureph.d.spluralmerrill lynchthe paperdesertsmisspelled celebrity namesprosecutorsshuttleevokeweb pagehillary clintonBuzzkillspelling mistake spelling mistakeshinkleyword choicecords1990'smsnbccomplementfewerdiplomasgrammariteliot spitzerpunctuationarizona cardinalsstationeryst. patrick's dayzip codesavinglongtime bowagreementfather's daysignslongtime beaubureaucratesecomplimentaryinvokebornsemicoloncanada geese canadian hudson crash usage grammar error spellingunecessarybondsmisspelled celebritiesat the worstdessertsvs.new york timesevery dayjulyelectionmost misspelledadditionalpotatopronounssteelershomonymsstanchpremierpremiereaprilhilaryredundanciesgrammar errorchordembarassedextranearestspelling mistakeemmanuelamongadjecitivespelling errorstaxpayers' dimeembarrasssuv'sawardshuman-causedaddingweb siteunderwaytoldfoolnational grammar dayspelling mistakesfearwritingvocalusewebpagespellign errorsbussesadjectivesplusblockcaesariansuffice to saywebgrammy'sverbpeakmisspelled signmormonproper nounscapitolchordshinckleybarakwriters strikevalentine's daymarksmatzo matzah matzoh spellingtestapostrophesborneall of the suddenliterallypluralsassociated press stylepronounbarrycaesareansuffice it to saygreengrocer's apostrophefool'smispellcomplementaryincentivizepiquebureaucratic languagepoliticiansaffectapostrophedvd'sundobadlightningasnecesareanevel knievelfourthpossessive personal pronounpittsburghear hearmistakesstationaryacronyms4th of julyelliottendeavouridiomssex and the cityusagefools'correctfourth of julystyleanbuildinghurtlecomplimentsunder wayplussesplusesbuffetwriter's striketrycitysigngrammieserrorsyoursactivelyflagstaffgreen-lightgeographyadverbseekingredundancyhurdleembarrassedwriters' strikefathers day4thinfluencepoormediateemingmistakejuly 4thcomplimentprincipalgrammar errorsspelling errorapostrophe sfoolstolledpossessive personal pronounsallembarassmisspellcompound adjectiveembarrassmentfathers' daymarksubjectjargonall of a suddenhausercelebritiesproper nounanxiousstarbucksspelingenthusiasmrightpeekvalentine'strysrahm emanuelcorrectionsveterans dayjustbrian williamsembarassingunnecessarynon-profitgrammyacronymamidstgrammar mistakeselliotendeavortackban togetherunduenbcwarren buffettnewsmakersbearcomevalentinegreengrocerfirstwebsitepittsburghvalentines daytoe the lineidiomtimeporegrislydaygreen lightpourprinciplediplomasuper bowlcorrectionmisspelled signsat worsehousefreddie macversusdamagelessamongstzipbreathSpelling, grammar and usage tips served with a dash of humor.http://www.irewrite.net/noreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)Blogger362125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-5470355422538130154Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:14:00 +00002012-07-25T11:14:38.976-07:00 Mr. Rewrite is excited that student journalists from his place of employment are covering the Summer Olympics in London. That has him thinking about AP style for various Olympic events. First, the AP Stylebook notes that it's decathlon rather than decathalon. AP is kind enough not to point it out, but Mr. Rewrite will note that many articles are already making this mistake (example: this PR http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/18SOmEz_oKE/this-6-foot-4-blogging-legend-says.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/18SOmEz_oKE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/this-6-foot-4-blogging-legend-says.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-1099167571356605700Tue, 17 Jul 2012 15:48:00 +00002012-07-25T10:46:26.999-07:00 Uh, since men is already plural the possessive is men's. The same goes when making possessives of other nouns with irregular plurals (examples: women's, children's, people's, oxen's and mice's). Someone took the time to explain this so Mr. Rewrite doesn't have to. Here's a link. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/UvfKn0VGPM8/childrens-and-womenses-service-too.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/UvfKn0VGPM8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/childrens-and-womenses-service-too.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-2776749790614715870Mon, 16 Jul 2012 09:30:00 +00002012-07-18T06:55:34.556-07:00Welcome to homophone hell.After finally pulling a bunch of boxes out of the attic of Rewrite Sr. and Mother Rewrite, Mr. Rewrite was savoring a trip down memory lane until he came upon this award.Metal winner? Unless someone handed Mr. Rewrite a hunk of copper, nickel or tin, he won a medal for an awesome piñata he and a classmate made for this parade.It's more common to see writers confuse http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/NKeI3RrUzuM/getting-this-right-tests-ones-mettle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/NKeI3RrUzuM" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/getting-this-right-tests-ones-mettle.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-6889836407178672980Sat, 14 Jul 2012 09:00:00 +00002012-07-14T06:46:59.985-07:00 While he's having this burst of blogging energy, Mr. Rewrite will resume summing up tweets from the past week ... In the photo above, this mobile glass-replacement firm apparently has mistaken itself for a service station. Mr. Rewrite was proud of his contributions to Mashable's request for #canceledwebshows, suggestions of TV program names tweaked to have Web/social media themes: "BFFy http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/NOiXWQSMfoU/fun-with-signs-mobil-service.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/NOiXWQSMfoU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/fun-with-signs-mobil-service.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-1431173993986974023Fri, 13 Jul 2012 18:20:00 +00002012-07-13T11:29:08.796-07:00 The Penn State news of the past 24 hours can't be dealt with lightly. But Mr. Rewrite should note, while acknowledging the gravity of the news being conveyed, that the AP Stylebook calls for cover-up, not coverup, as a noun and adjective and cover up as a verb. So the Freeh report alleges that certain officials engaged in a cover-up, at least if a news organization bound by AP style is http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/YUbLXpYVleY/mr-rewrite-would-rather-not-have-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/YUbLXpYVleY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/mr-rewrite-would-rather-not-have-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-8775030973233717523Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:30:00 +00002012-07-12T08:54:53.049-07:00 Hey rama! This Yahoo! blurb fails to follow Mr. Rewrite's First Rule of Who/Whom: If ever one feels like using whom, simply write around the problem or risk the wrath of mean-spirited and-or wannabe grammarians who live for the opportunity to savage writers over who/whom errors. Rewriting also helps because whom usually suggests that a passage is far from conversational. William Safire, as http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/x24dMGjM95w/to-whom-should-mr-rewrite-address-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/x24dMGjM95w" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/to-whom-should-mr-rewrite-address-this.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-1276704704224912327Wed, 11 Jul 2012 08:30:00 +00002012-07-11T08:38:48.568-07:00 Mr. Rewrite's summer editing work reinforces another AP style point: One tunes up (v.) a car, provides a tuneup (noun) or is a tuneup (adj.) mechanic. In no case does AP allow tune-up. But that's how it appears in many, many articles by news organizations claiming to follow AP style. For example: This appears to be an especially big problem for sports sections, which throw http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/bmqYsqBAdmU/time-to-tune-up-their-ap-style.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/bmqYsqBAdmU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/time-to-tune-up-their-ap-style.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-3972152885019575817Tue, 10 Jul 2012 09:00:00 +00002012-07-10T06:33:53.366-07:00 Mr. Rewrite did a double take when he and Rewrite Jr. passed this sign on the way to a scary ride. Entire duration? Since duration means the time that something lasts, per the Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition, entire adds nothing but redundancy.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/bMPlE60YFCA/another-redundancy-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/bMPlE60YFCA" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/another-redundancy-again.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-96575355434962630Mon, 09 Jul 2012 08:00:00 +00002012-07-09T01:00:08.942-07:00 Is there any news story these days that doesn't have the word crosshairs in the headline? Some examples: Politico: Outsourcing in Senate's crosshairs CNN: US Midwest in crosshairs of child sex trafficking fight National Journal: Obama puts 'Romneycare' in crosshairs Fortune: Why the FTC has hackers' victims in its crosshairs CBS News: Public sector unions in crosshairs after the Wisconsin http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/xSeXXlbVrUg/mr-rewrite-puts-crosshairs-in-his-cross.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/xSeXXlbVrUg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/mr-rewrite-puts-crosshairs-in-his-cross.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-7284411099435472255Sun, 08 Jul 2012 08:05:00 +00002012-07-08T07:51:58.578-07:00Unless the shopping carts at this Trader Joe’s are suing customers, they cause damage, not damages. The AP Stylebook and pretty much every other style/usage guide reserve damages for compensation that courts assign for injury or loss.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/wAqV3wpwYfg/this-mistake-damages-ones-reputation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/wAqV3wpwYfg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/this-mistake-damages-ones-reputation.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-7241935745690669629Sat, 07 Jul 2012 14:50:00 +00002012-07-07T08:15:43.238-07:00Mr. Rewrite is recycling a 2008 graphic to compliment the many, many media accounts that correctly spell Wimbledon (not Wimbeldon). Now let's slam (overhead, of course) those that don't. Check out the carnage via Google News. It isn't just lower-seeded journalism organizations making this unforced error.When Mr. Rewrite began his service as a journalist he had to look such things up in reference http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/q8rI1g862nY/backhanded-compliment-from-mr-rewrite.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/q8rI1g862nY" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/backhanded-compliment-from-mr-rewrite.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-2995563728773895540Fri, 06 Jul 2012 15:41:00 +00002012-07-06T09:41:42.169-07:00 Until now, Mr. Rewrite postulated that attention to grammar, a stylebook and the dictionary held the universe together. That left him quite depressed about the state of the universe. Now the newspaper tells him that something called a Higgs boson does the job. Mr. Rewrite has included a picture of one above. One may have to squint to make it out. Well, guess what: Attention to grammar, http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/C2CtkCMGKUU/some-thoughts-on-matter-of-higgs-boson.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/C2CtkCMGKUU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/some-thoughts-on-matter-of-higgs-boson.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-5707593177262129896Thu, 05 Jul 2012 18:43:00 +00002012-07-07T22:35:05.998-07:00 Let us (or let's) consider why this sign lacks an apostrophe. Perhaps it's to warp young minds. Here's one from across the way that's better. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/HMn3ugprq7k/let-us-ponder.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/HMn3ugprq7k" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/let-us-ponder.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-5614143656422051631Mon, 02 Jul 2012 07:26:00 +00002012-07-02T06:31:59.270-07:00 Mr. Rewrite is getting into his summer editing gigs. Those summer editing gigs lead to lots of interesting AP style discoveries. And those, along with not wanting to work in the yard or prepare for the fall semester, renew his interest in blogging. So enjoy it while it lasts, Community of Concern. Mr. Rewrite is blogging again. He usually flames out after several months. Today's discovery: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/3PEohXEUJHI/no-such-thing-as-pre-game-ceremony-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/3PEohXEUJHI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/07/no-such-thing-as-pre-game-ceremony-to.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-1350431433785451067Sat, 30 Jun 2012 17:23:00 +00002012-07-01T10:18:41.889-07:00 Mr. Rewrite's morning paper hyphenates pretty much every compound modifier (see health-care law and social-media annoyances in the above). It's just fine for a news organization to have its own style, applied consistently. But Mr. Rewrite must point out to students and the broader Community of Concern that this is a departure from Associated Press style. Per the stylebook entry on http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/B0TFRPRr9qI/ap-hyphenation-can-go-too-far-guidance.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/B0TFRPRr9qI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/06/ap-hyphenation-can-go-too-far-guidance.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-6578457041176502624Sat, 23 Jun 2012 14:17:00 +00002012-07-01T08:22:57.724-07:00 Mr. Rewrite has given in to vices such as "Modern Family," reading books and working, but perhaps it's time to get back to blogging. This one should be vise. Look it up.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/eoODejZ_FoU/mr-rewrite-advice-use-dictionary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/eoODejZ_FoU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/06/mr-rewrite-advice-use-dictionary.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-1385403447581594175Tue, 21 Feb 2012 03:47:00 +00002012-02-20T20:47:23.160-07:00Props to Mrs. Rewrite for spotting this glitch from the PBS Clinton documentary.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/6p_F696fiSU/doesn-inspire-optimism.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/6p_F696fiSU" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/02/doesn-inspire-optimism.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-2209135679917723998Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:05:00 +00002012-02-19T15:50:22.961-07:00 Unless you've chosen to honor just one president, keep in mind that it's Presidents Day weekend. Mr. Rewrite also will accept Presidents' Day. The AP Stylebook goes with Presidents Day, as shown below. http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/SKDu-nnDwfg/mr-rewrite-honors-all-presidents.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/SKDu-nnDwfg" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/02/mr-rewrite-honors-all-presidents.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-4198370242130983705Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:15:00 +00002012-02-19T15:50:53.935-07:00 Mr. Rewrite isn't making light of this story, but he must note that a fire that kills is necessarily deadly. No need for clarification.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/nafDQmj-bd0/another-redundancy-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/nafDQmj-bd0" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/02/another-redundancy-again.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-2778380108123607466Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:29:00 +00002012-01-06T08:49:00.842-07:00 Greetings, gentle readers. Mr. Rewrite is trying to emerge from his end-o'-semester, holiday-exacerbated fog by pointing out this boo-boo in today's paper. In general, "affect" is going to be the verb and "effect" the noun. But not always. He'll let Paul Brians take it from here, as Mr. Rewrite remains a tad foggy.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/Vttmkqk7avI/defect.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/Vttmkqk7avI" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2012/01/defect.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-1082567026057947714Sat, 24 Dec 2011 16:20:00 +00002011-12-24T09:33:50.422-07:00 How does one compliment free checking? "Nice checkbook" would do, Mr. Rewrite supposes. A music player accompanying free checking, however, is a complement. Here's Paul Brians' explanation from Common Errors in English Usage. Mr. Rewrite must return to keeping Rewrite Jr. away from the tree.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/nfduVlUF7o8/no-compliments-for-this.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/nfduVlUF7o8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2011/12/no-compliments-for-this.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-7812941316965521860Tue, 13 Dec 2011 18:56:00 +00002011-12-13T11:56:52.911-07:00 Mr. Rewrite had occasion to confirm today that a note, grocery list, etc., is handwritten, not hand-written. The AP Stylebook offers no help, but Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition, where AP turns for matters not covered by the stylebook, goes with handwritten. It's the same story with handwriting. But the AP Stylebook goes with hand-washing, and the New World goes with http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/48NeFCXbjns/dont-send-mr-rewrite-hand-written-notes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)2<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/48NeFCXbjns" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2011/12/dont-send-mr-rewrite-hand-written-notes.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-7107860514318844443Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:22:00 +00002011-12-10T00:22:00.350-07:00 Well, Mr. Rewrite doesn't find it nice (Nice!) when a store pays money for a sign misusing everyday vs. every day. For the record, whatever nice (Nice!) is happening here is nice every day (adv.).http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/UDDQAvU_ToE/nice-another-everyday-error-every-week.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/UDDQAvU_ToE" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2011/12/nice-another-everyday-error-every-week.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-2985628497468051005Wed, 07 Dec 2011 07:02:00 +00002011-12-07T00:02:00.183-07:00 Mr. Rewrite always learns though editing. Today's lesson: The AP Stylebook calls for socio-economic (with the hyphen) rather than socioeconomic.  There's no stylebook entry on socio-economic, but a search of the electronic version yielded a reference in the hyphen (-) entry. This differs from the Websters New World College Dictionary, Fourth Edition, which calls for socioeconomic. Mr. Rewritehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/VtPUHZxB45I/mr-rewrite-ignores-socioeconomic-data.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)1<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/VtPUHZxB45I" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2011/12/mr-rewrite-ignores-socioeconomic-data.htmltag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1367577693271785749.post-6694594678179618322Tue, 06 Dec 2011 07:02:00 +00002011-12-06T00:02:00.389-07:00 Oh, for crying out loud. It's mattress, of course.http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/MrRewrite/~3/wTyUPBtjUh8/once-upon-matress.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Mr. Rewrite)0<img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/MrRewrite/~4/wTyUPBtjUh8" height="1" width="1"/>http://www.irewrite.net/2011/12/once-upon-matress.html