English Has Its 'Piques' and Valleys
Loyal members of the Word Guy Blooper Patrol have been scurrying around all summer to find errors in publications and other printed matter. Can you spot the blots they've discovered?
1. From a cocktail menu: "If you don't see something to peak your interest, we'll gladly make your request." I'll have a Mountain Dew on the rocks.
2. "We are now reaping the fruit of the seeds we have sewn." This one had me in stitches.
3. "When people move to a new town, especially from out of state, there is a period of adjustment and acclamation." Cheers from the Welcome Wagon?
4. "He felt the blood cursing through his veins." Damn the clots; full speed ahead!
5. "She held on to the horse's bridal." Well, some horses do have grooms.
6. "He's started to notice gray specs in his whiskers." Was his beard nearsighted?
7. "His biography sites no stage work." And no work at any other sites, for that matter.
8. "A perspective committee member must be a U.S. citizen." And presumably take a broad view of things.
9. "When confronted by the lawyer, the witness back peddled." And tried to sell the same old story?
10. "It was an attempt to staunch the flood of unregulated soft money." Contributed by fiercely loyal supporters?
11. "Within 45 seconds he had spoken his peace." Revealing his inner serenity, no doubt.
12. "Likewise, the Academy's history of bestowing awards on films that did not open in December phases no one." Except the producers of "Killers of the Flower Moon."
13. "Sipowicz has been put through the ringer." Ingested and digested by Quasimodo?
14. "She touted her own horn." Well, she does play a pretty nice instrument.
15. "Keep in mind they'll be targeted to the most sophisticated carnivores' palettes." Especially the meat eaters of the Painted Desert.
16. "In a bitter primary battle, Kim did not back down, wracking up unexpected wins over Murphy." Bringing Murphy to wrack and ruin?
17. "Luke Hemsworth stars in this Australia-set film as a drug-dealing surfer dad on the lamb with his son." Well, at least they weren't atop a kangaroo.
18. "Researchers discovered the mummy was a female priest in 2006, and since then have begun to unravel the mystery of her life." Especially the secret of how she lived so long.
Corrections: 1. pique 2. sown 3. acclimation 4. coursing 5. bridle 6. specks 7. cites 8. prospective 9. backpedaled 10. stanch 11. piece 12. fazes 13. wringer 14. tooted 15. palates 16. racking 17. lam 18. In 2006, researchers discovered...
========
Rob Kyff, a teacher and writer in West Hartford, Connecticut, invites your language sightings. His book, "Mark My Words," is available for $9.99 on Amazon.com. Send your reports of misuse and abuse, as well as examples of good writing, via email to WordGuy@aol.com or by regular mail to Rob Kyff, Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254.
Copyright 2024 Creators Syndicate Inc.
Comments