The Importance of Not Ignoring the Spelling Checker

In today's Daily, several student groups signed off on a full-page ad responding to the recent falsified hate crimes fiasco. They also all signed off on a spelling error that shows up twice consecutively: Apparently, the claims of hate crimes, in context, were at the time "comprehendable."

According to Merriam-Webster, "comprehendible" is an acceptable spelling of the word meaning, roughly, "able to be comprehended." "Comprehensible" is probably a more common spelling meaning the same thing. They probably actually meant to say "credible," as hate crimes are something you generally don't want to imply you benevolently understand.

But still, they could have gotten away with changing one little letter and then looked like they cared a whole lot more. Or at least looking like they went to a highly ranked national university. As it is, ignoring the wiggly lines under misspelled words in Word makes you look slightly less credible, especially to opponents who need little reason to hate. Tsk, tsk.

Saving Grace

My mom picked up my 3-year-old cousin Grace from preschool one day recently. Whenever my mom picks her up, the two of them simply must do lunch and hit the chocolate store before going home. That day, my mom gave Grace her cell phone, having dialed up Grace's mom.

"Tell your mom we're going out to lunch, Grace Ann, and then we can get going."

"But I don't want to talk!" she says. Grace is particular about when she'll get on the phone. Sometimes she steals the receiver from whoever's using it if she has something to say, but oftentimes she has better things to do.

"Come on, Grace, it'll only take a minute."

Grace takes the phone, and her mom finally picks up the phone. In the background, the infant she baby-sits for my grandmother's neighbor is screaming bloody murder.

Grace giggles. "What the hell -- I mean, heck -- is that?"

My mom and I aren't quite sure whether it's funnier that this toddler swore in front of her mother or that she already knew to correct herself.