I'll have Coffee and a Piece of Li-berry Pie

I've written here before about our local newspaper, a small town publication mostly dedicated to advertising various town happenings, events, and other items of "interest." It actually serves about 10 towns in the area. I often notice how poorly written it is, and, more annoying to me, how poorly edited. I don't think anyone employs proofreaders or copy editors anymore. (Disclaimer: any mistakes in this blog are not due to writer's lack of editing skills, but due to poor typing skills and Friday night cocktails).

This is part of larger trend I see, something often pointed out by my fellow bloggers. Many people have no idea how to write, spell, use correct words, or pronounce the words they do use correctly. Allow me to justify with a few examples:

Li-berry. This word is often used in the following context: "I got this book from the li-berry." Did you really now? I check books out of the li-BR-ary. Notice that consonant blend of BR in the middle. Li-berry sounds more like a fruit to me, as in strawberry or blueberry. "I'll have the li-berry pie alamode."

Inclimate. I have often seen this word used on school notices and other printed material, and as far as I can tell, it's not a word. It is used to mean "harsh weather" as in "School will be cancelled due to inclimate weather." I believe you mean INCLEMENT weather. Inclimate is more like "in-season."

Marshmellow. This does not refer to a white, gooey, confectionery treat; it refers to a swampy area of land where all inhabitants are very calm. "Man, did you see those birds, dude? They live in a marsh that's mellow.." (or a marshmellow). If you are thinking of the stuff you put in fudge than you mean marshmAllow. Teachers spell this wrong all the time, which drives me up a wall.

Except vs Accept. "The children are having difficulty excepting a new class member." Uh that means they are having trouble excluding him. You mean "accept." These are used in error all the time.

Comprised of. This is actually something that has come to be excepted (oh wait I mean accepted) as common usage, but it's really incorrect. The word comprise means to include or contain as in, "Our country comprises 50 states." It should NOT be used, as it commonly is, to state "The Board is comprised of 30 people." You mean "The Board is composed of 30 people." Hmmmphhhh.

And now back to the local paper. This week, some fool listed his or her house for sale with the following description: "Three-bedroom ranch, 1 bath, 1/4 acre lot, good starter home. Handy cap access." Does that mean it's really easy for hats to get in and out of this house?"

Well, with that, I think I'll get my li-berry book, have some cocoa with marshmellows and prepare for tomorrow's inclimate weather.