Saturday, July 05, 2014

When headlines do not make sense, heads must roll?

I wish there are rewards for spotting mistakes in the newspapers we read because mistakes can be found easily. This could be due to a drop in standard of English, in proof-reading and/or editing.

I must admit I have my own blind spots which only others could spot easily, but I expect a much higher standard of care in publications. Often, I spot and amend mistakes in my blog posts because those mistakes could not get past my mental checks, sometimes days later.

I have some selected headlines with comments (from my mail box, not from our local papers; mistakes in local papers are too numerous to list, unless there is some reward for doing so!), which are funny or senseless. Not all are mistakes, some could be deliberate to catch the attention of readers...

Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter  
'This one I caught in the SGV Tribune the other day and called the Editorial Room and asked who wrote this. It took two or three readings before the editor realized that what he was reading was impossible!!! They put in a correction the next day.'

'I just couldn't help but sending this along. Too funny.'  
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says  
'really? Ya think?'

Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers   
'Now that's taking things a bit far!'

Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over    
'What a guy!'    

Miners Refuse to Work after Death  
'No-good-for-nothing' lazy so-and-so's!'

Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant    
'See if that works any better than a fair trial!'

War Dims Hope for Peace   
'I can see where it might have that effect!'

If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile 
'Is that so!'
 
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures   
'Who would have thought!'

Enfield (London) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide     
'They may be on to something!'

Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges   
'You mean there's something stronger than duct tape?'

Man Struck By Lightning: Faces Battery Charge    
'He probably IS the battery charge!'

New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group   
'Weren't they fat enough?!'

Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft   
'That's what he gets for eating those beans!'

Kids Make Nutritious Snacks   
'Do they taste like chicken?'

Local  High School Dropouts Cut in Half   
'Chainsaw massacre all over again!'

Hospitals are sued by 7 Foot Doctors   
'Boy, are they tall!'

And the winner is...
 
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead   
'Did I read that right?'

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