From the Grammar Police

Where that modifier did I put? Did misplace it I again?

An abortion medication had a wife. Who knew?

Bob D’Angelo

Can a 14-year-old buy a store?

Jan Norris

So the 19-year-old girlfriend is 49?
(PS: We will not reward these “news” vultures by identifying the celebrity they were tormenting.)

These deaths were tragedies. But let’s write properly. A skydiver didn’t die twice. How about: “Second skydiver death in two years at Florida airport.”

Did you really mean to say this was about the painting value, whatever that is, of a massive dying aunt? Probably not.

If I was that shopping center, I’d be put out, too.

The man was from Florida. But not in Florida. The next line makes it clear. The man — sadly — fatally set himself afire outside Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial in New York.

And we go to the video archives for Segment 73: Canadian Club. https://youtu.be/gUTKiaT12H8?si=fYCqLOtV_bKqGlKo

Readers: "Something Went Horribly Wrong" features samples of bad writing we see nearly every day. You can participate! Be our duly deputized “grammar police.” Your motto: “To protect and correct.” Send in your photos of store signs, street signs, menus, TV news graphics, newspaper headlines, tweets, and so on. It doesn’t have to be a grammatical error. It can be just what we call “cowardly writing.” Include your name and home town so we can credit you properly. You're free to add a comment, although we reserve the right to edit or omit. Now get out there! Send to Eliot@eliotkleinberg.com

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NOTE: Eliot and Lou Ann are available for speaking engagements, and can travel. Reach us through the comments section. Just think of all of your employees getting back to work on a Monday, their heads filled with all the ways we’ve shown them to be better communicators!