Spelling was always a favorite subject of mine in grade school, probably because I performed best at it compared to math and science. In today’s world I can spot misspellings easily when they appear in a newspaper or on the tv screen.
An old history manuscript on my shelf is titled “Early Ransom County History: 1835-1885.” It includes a section showing how many spellings this county’s Sheyenne River has gone through. A reader can see it took quite awhile before we finally settled on the present spelling. Here is a list of some of the ways it has appeared on maps throughout recorded history:
Shyan - Alex. Henry, 1800
Shienne - Prof. Wm. H. Keating, 1823
Shayenn Oju - Nicollet's Map, 1842
Shayenne - Capt. Pope, 1849
Chienne - Smith's school geography, 1849
Shayennoja - a map printed in 1850
Cheyenne - Alex. Ramsey, 1851
Shayenne - McNally's Geography, 1862
Shyenne - Mitchell's Geography, 1866
In the present day we recognize it as Sheyenne, but people in different parts of the country still think it should be spelled Cheyenne, as did this computer's spell checker. In fact the spell checker can lead to errors in its own right because it often thinks the spelling should be a different word similarly spelled than the intended one. If a person isn’t diligent in editing his finished product, it remains in print to misinform readers.
A search for words where the writers either didn’t know better or they didn’t check their spell checkers results turns up plenty of examples. Here’s one seen frequently: “Congradulations to this year’s graduates.” This one speaks to the concerns some have about immigrants: “English is our language. No excetions.” A tattooist really messed up with this one he wrote in bold letters on a man’s arm “No regerts.” Here’s a real groaner seen in a department store: “Shoplifters will be prostituted.”
I doubt this sign in a private parking lot was intended: “Illegally parked cars will be fine,” or this one: “Please pay your parking fee before existing.” In a fortune cookie, someone found, “You will gain admiration from your pears.” This thank you card might’ve embarrassed the teacher for whom it was intended, “Your the best teacher ever.”
Even pharmacists make mistakes on prescription bottles, “Take 1 capsule by mouth every 12 hours with wood.” A self-service bagel counter proclaimed, “Please use Tongue or Tissue Paper when making your selection.” Tongs? This one might cause you to drive to the next restaurant, “Anus beef, Lettuce, Tomato Special.” And noisy smokers were once admonished, “No Smoking Aloud.”
I rather like the subject of grammar, which means writing accurately and properly within the rules set for our language. There are lots of rules governing our speech and writing, but one of the rules we all disregard has to do with never ending a sentence with a preposition. When criticized for occasionally ending a sentence on a preposition, Winston Churchill replied, "This is the type of errant pedantry up with which I will not put.” Of course it’s standard to say it’s something we will not put up with. Churchill knew as much about the English language as anyone.
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