"Our proofreading is abdominal," says American Philatelist

maturin · Post by **maturin** » 20 Jun 2012 18:24

"Gilbraltar"?

Post by **GlenStephens** » 20 Jun 2012 18:36

I love it!

How could this have possibly got through even a basic spell checker???

Glen

Jonah · Post by **Jonah** » 20 Jun 2012 18:40

Probably used the same hand held magnifier used on the Plate 77 Cover....it never misses a thing!

warm · Post by **warm** » 20 Jun 2012 18:44

Obviously done by a 'liberal' arts design student.

It is obvious that we cannot aesthetically place the space hungry 'G' and "R' next to the very close 'I' - so we need a spacer like an 'L'.

Just obvious

[Must be clear if we can use 3 [no 4] obvious words]

May get a mention in a coming Stamp News ??????

… or could this be the lost first issue from a rebel political 'Gilbraltar' group that were to attempt a coup…

Post by **gavin-h** » 20 Jun 2012 18:56

Oh, Dear, how EMBLARRASSING

Tassie_Stamps · Post by **Tassie_Stamps** » 20 Jun 2012 19:11

A pretty bad and VERY OBVIOUS mistake.

Post by **GlenStephens** » 20 Jun 2012 19:20

warm wrote:
May get a mention in a coming Stamp News ??????

I'll pass this on to the Editor of that and the 'Philatelic Exporter' but I suspect both will breathe a sigh of relief it was not them.

Glen

Allanswood · Post by **Allanswood** » 20 Jun 2012 19:37

I'm sorry, but what has all this got to do with stomach muscles?
Abdominal?

muruk · Post by **muruk** » 20 Jun 2012 19:44

Is "abdominal proofreading" a type of "navel gazing"?

stampchris · Post by **stampchris** » 20 Jun 2012 23:05

GlenStephens wrote:I love it!

How could this have possibly got through even a basic spell checker???

Glen

Quite easily - many word processors (e.g. Word) turn off spell checking for 'words' which are only in capitals. That way acronyms etc. aren't picked up.

Proof readers often miss errors in headlines. I always remember a headline about IBM read 'IMB spends...'

Allanswood · Post by **Allanswood** » 20 Jun 2012 23:07

It's a mute point but IMB is a building society over here in NSW.

muruk · Post by **muruk** » 20 Jun 2012 23:36

Allanswood wrote:It's a mute point but IMB is a building society over here in NSW.

How can it be mute if someone mentioned it? Do you mean "moot"? Need a proof reader?

Footnote ... "moot" has different meanings in British English and USAmerican English ... if your version doesn't make sense, use the other one.

DNA is National Dyslexic's Association.

Allanswood · Post by **Allanswood** » 20 Jun 2012 23:39

Sarcasm, pun, poofreader malfunction - take your pick!

muruk · Post by **muruk** » 20 Jun 2012 23:41

In my military training I was taught "If you're going to stuff up, do it boldly and confidently and no-one will notice".

This magazine cover puts that doctrine to rest.

maturin · Post by **maturin** » 20 Jun 2012 23:49

Allanswood wrote:I'm sorry, but what has all this got to do with stomach muscles?
Abdominal?

A college newspaper ran a story about the Dean's criticism of its editors and their abominable skills. The headline was: "Dean says our proofreading is abdominal."

muruk · Post by **muruk** » 20 Jun 2012 23:51

Muphry's Law strikes again.

Allanswood · Post by **Allanswood** » 21 Jun 2012 00:08

"New Ab-doer Pro, get your abominable muscles ripped!"

jbcev80 · Post by **jbcev80** » 21 Jun 2012 01:19

Hi

So much for spell checking and proofreading. At least the picture is right. The APS is not going to live this one down for a long time.

I had worked with computerized typesetting systems for a time and I have seen a multitude of goofs during proofreading, some funny. But on a national philatelic magazine cover

That is a classic to save.

As shown by the thread title, the use of a dictionary seems to be non-existent. I have seen a lot of words misspelled (not just American and English differences) and/or misused. The thread title rests my case.

Jerry B

HKStampsGuru · Post by **HKStampsGuru** » 21 Jun 2012 01:44

Uhmm.... You got 2 stamps below the wrong name.... uhm....

uncadonego · Post by **uncadonego** » 21 Jun 2012 03:16

John Lennon used to play around with stuff like that all the time in stuff like "In His Own Right" and " A Spaniard In The Works". In one of his little stories everyone in the room was dancing with wild abdomen.

jadrake · Post by **jadrake** » 21 Jun 2012 06:08

I don't think I even noticed that on my issue. Of course, I quickly flip through the magazine. Despite the cover topic, very rarely is there much in detail beyond US topics (in my humble opinion). Still there is an author in NZ who contributes Commonwealth topics which is nice.

Handwriting in general has gone to hell, and I think for the most part outside of spelling bees proof reading has as well. This is sure a funny topic!

Of course, the teachers at my children's daycare facility.... they make spelling mistakes all the time (even on my kids' craft works) which really makes me wonder what they were teaching in school a few years ago.

-Jason

mozzerb · Post by **mozzerb** » 21 Jun 2012 09:52

GlenStephens wrote:I love it!

How could this have possibly got through even a basic spell checker???

Glen

Probably never went through a spell checker at all -- looks like the letters were individually arranged on the cover!

Allanswood · Post by **Allanswood** » 21 Jun 2012 12:24

I have 'wonky' fonts like that on my system, so they may be an installed font. I think it more likely that the spell check doesn't work on all capitals lettered words.

A search on Google shows that spelling Gibraltar wrong is a common mistake.

But also I can't read here where the badly proofread 'quote' in the thread heading came from? Can someone show where the AP said that?

DJM · Post by **DJM** » 21 Jun 2012 13:10

Proof that everyone who has anything to do with stamps needs glasses - very STRONG ones....

D.

Post by **GlenStephens** » 21 Jun 2012 13:32

Allanswood wrote:
I think it more likely that the spell check doesn't work on all capitals lettered words.

Every computer I have had for 10 years has that option tickable on basic MS software, so feel sure PRO users have it automatically selected.

Looks like a fancy font to me.

revcollector · Post by **revcollector** » 21 Jun 2012 14:20

maturin wrote:"Gilbraltar"?

Is this an error or a freak?

muruk · Post by **muruk** » 21 Jun 2012 14:40

No, an oddity.

Allanswood · Post by **Allanswood** » 21 Jun 2012 14:59

GlenStephens wrote:
Allanswood wrote:
I think it more likely that the spell check doesn't work on all capitals lettered words.

Every computer I have had for 10 years has that option tickable on basic MS software, so feel sure PRO users have it automatically selected.

That may be true, but as this option in MS spellcheck is turned off by default, you would need to know about it and then go into the setup and turn spellcheck 'words all in uppercase' on, to make it work.

I have no idea how a Mac might do it.

So they must have had the work experience kid do the front cover!

With the error, freak or oddity question - wouldn't it be an error? The cover on each and every magazine is the same and is as issued, so it's an error. A freak or an oddity would not be a mass repeating occurance.

Post by **GlenStephens** » 21 Jun 2012 15:25

Part explanation might be that many Americans speak the word as JILbraltar.

No idea why, but 20% of the population say AXED instead of asked, so go figger.

However as most of them also say ORSTrayer - heaven help us if we end up on a cover!

jjarmstrong47 · Post by **jjarmstrong47** » 21 Jun 2012 18:26

Muruk wrote:

Footnote ... "moot" has different meanings in British English and USAmerican English ... if your version doesn't make sense, use the other one.

As a child in an English school we sang "Linden Lea" thus:

Within a woodland flowery gladed
By the oak tree's mossy moot"

Moot was an old English word that had gone out of usage for this context and none of us knew what it meant. I believe it is the part where the trunk begins dividing into roots but I would welcome opinions of that. These days you often see the word "root" substituted when the song is written or sung.

The old Anglo Saxon meaning was of a meeting place and the term has various meanings in the law courts. Perhaps the most intriguing definition which I hadn't heard before is from here in Australia which you can find here:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/moot

Perhaps there is a link there to the word substitution in Linden Lea.

Post by **gavin-h** » 21 Jun 2012 19:34

Allanswood wrote:
GlenStephens wrote:
Allanswood wrote:
I think it more likely that the spell check doesn't work on all capitals lettered words.

Every computer I have had for 10 years has that option tickable on basic MS software, so feel sure PRO users have it automatically selected.

That may be true, but as this option in MS spellcheck is turned off by default, you would need to know about it and then go into the setup and turn spellcheck 'words all in uppercase' on, to make it work.

I have no idea how a Mac might do it.

Of course, instead of fannying about with the technology, they could have just used their eyes and half a brain

revcollector · Post by **revcollector** » 21 Jun 2012 22:17

GlenStephens wrote:Part explanation might be that many Americans speak the word as JILbraltar.

No idea why, but 20% of the population say AXED instead of asked, so go figger.

However as most of them also say ORSTrayer - heaven help us if we end up on a cover!

I do love these blanket statements about America, they are so educational.

Post by **GlenStephens** » 22 Jun 2012 02:07

Allanswood wrote:
With the error, freak or oddity question - wouldn't it be an error? The cover on each and every magazine is the same and is as issued, so it's an error.

A freak or an oddity would not be a mass repeating occurance.

Yes, I'll go with 'error' too.

Glen

Fisherking · Post by **Fisherking** » 22 Jun 2012 03:34

GlenStephens wrote:Part explanation might be that many Americans speak the word as JILbraltar.

No idea why, but 20% of the population say AXED instead of asked, so go figger.

However as most of them also say ORSTrayer - heaven help us if we end up on a cover!

...Said the junk box peddler from the overgrown penal colony/refueling point

-FK

Timshorts · Post by **Timshorts** » 22 Jun 2012 03:49

Fisherking wrote:
...Said the junk box peddler from the overgrown penal colony/refueling point

-FK

He can probably rest his case now......

Fisherking · Post by **Fisherking** » 22 Jun 2012 03:59

-FK

Post by **GlenStephens** » 22 Jun 2012 04:00

Anyone who uses this as a signature here is a authority on spelling I'd guess - AP might have a job for him.

" It's getting downright re-goddamn-diculous"
-John Wayne"

Machaggis52 · Post by **Machaggis52** » 22 Jun 2012 06:29

jjarmstrong47 wrote:Muruk wrote:
Footnote ... "moot" has different meanings in British English and USAmerican English ... if your version doesn't make sense, use the other one.

As a child in an English school we sang "Linden Lea" thus:

Within a woodland flowery gladed
By the oak tree's mossy moot"

Moot was an old English word that had gone out of usage for this context and none of us knew what it meant. I believe it is the part where the trunk begins dividing into roots but I would welcome opinions of that. These days you often see the word "root" substituted when the song is written or sung.

The old Anglo Saxon meaning was of a meeting place and the term has various meanings in the law courts. Perhaps the most intriguing definition which I hadn't heard before is from here in Australia which you can find here:
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/moot

Perhaps there is a link there to the word substitution in Linden Lea.

That did make me chuckle.

bazza4338 · Post by **bazza4338** » 22 Jun 2012 07:18

muruk wrote:
DNA is National Dyslexic's Association.

Then there was the dislexic agnostic who didn't believe in Dog

revcollector · Post by **revcollector** » 22 Jun 2012 11:07

bazza4338 wrote:
muruk wrote:
DNA is National Dyslexic's Association.

Then there was the dislexic agnostic who didn't believe in Dog

Obviously not a stamp collector, we see lots of dogs (look in any large lot) and we believe them too.

Post by **gavin-h** » 22 Jun 2012 21:53

Timshorts wrote:
Fisherking wrote:
...Said the junk box peddler from the overgrown penal colony/refueling point

-FK
He can probably rest his case now......

Fisherking wrote:

-FK

There are 2 Ls in Refuelling.

Allanswood · Post by **Allanswood** » 22 Jun 2012 22:36

Only if you use British and not US spelling.

The Pom · Post by **The Pom** » 23 Jun 2012 00:35

gavin-h wrote:
There are 2 Ls in Refuelling.

Incorrect use of a capital letter. See me after class.

smauggie · Post by **smauggie** » 23 Jun 2012 01:43

GlenStephens wrote:Part explanation might be that many Americans speak the word as JILbraltar.

Hehe, not!

This was "Word Art". It is not considered text by the spell checking system, but as a graphic object. Someone farmed it out as an easy job to a teenager probably, and then didn't notice the error.

GlenStephens wrote:No idea why, but 20% of the population say AXED instead of asked, so go figger.

This hurts. Because it is true.

GlenStephens wrote:However as most of them also say ORSTrayer - heaven help us if we end up on a cover!

I have no idea what you are talking about. "Horse trader?"

aethelwulf · Post by **aethelwulf** » 23 Jun 2012 03:08

bazza4338 wrote:
muruk wrote: DNA is National Dyslexic's Association.
Then there was the dislexic agnostic who didn't believe in Dog

And the dyslexic agnostic insomniac--he sat up all night wondering if there really was a Dog.

JaceStamps · Post by **JaceStamps** » 23 Jun 2012 05:41

Found this little annoyance on the May 2012 Linn's Stamp News. The spine says June 2012.

I wonder if they employ the same proofreader as the APS.

PGphilat · Post by **PGphilat** » 23 Jun 2012 07:48

The social scientists worked out years ago that if the FIRST letter and the LAST letter were correct, most people will see the word and recognise it; that's why you have to be trained out of this to be a proofreader.

Paul

vikingeck · Post by **vikingeck** » 23 Jun 2012 08:52

So if
"txt is wrttn like thfs mist pehele cfn wgrk ojt whkt it mdgns"

Dyslexia lures k.o.!

Allanswood · Post by **Allanswood** » 23 Jun 2012 10:56

smauggie wrote:
GlenStephens wrote:Part explanation might be that many Americans speak the word as JILbraltar.
Hehe, not!

This was "Word Art". It is not considered text by the spell checking system, but as a graphic object. Someone farmed it out as an easy job to a teenager probably, and then didn't notice the error.

I doubt that is was word art. I'm sure it's just a straight out spelling mistake. Too much bother when fonts are easily available to just type in. I have 400 on my system, 4000 on a CD and can access 50,000+ on the net. If I could be bothered I think I could find the font used.

But there are many avaliable that look wonky and go above and below the lines. All of these (below) had spell check identify them.

The first is just a wingding font with Gibraltar spelt correct and incorrect and it passed the one that is correct.

PS - the 'first and last' letter sentencing only works if you know how to spell the real word, what the word means and can comprehend the grammar of the sentence and the word has all the letters used to spell it. You need to know English first to decifer the jumbled words.

aidntsiirsiemnhssilartitaablm

Post by **GlenStephens** » 23 Jun 2012 14:15

Allanswood wrote:You need to know English first to decifer the jumbled words.

aidntsiirsiemnhssilartitaablm

Darn .. does not work for me in English or Spanish.

And what language is 'decifer' in, by the way? 8)