I’ve been reading Lynne Truss’s book, “Eats, Shoots, and Leaves”. It’s nice to read something from someone who is just as frightened and appalled as I am when we encounter blantant spelling, punctuation, and grammar abuses on signs, billboards, menus, flyers, programs, and just about everything that has words written on it.

It’s not that people don’t make errors occasionally. I don’t think even the most anal-retentive, uppitty, girdle-wearing copyeditor in the universe can write perfect copy. But, geez, there is such a thing as re-reading what you wrote!

When I put things on display for people to read and find an error after it’s out there, my insides just begin melting. I am mortified and embarassed. Not because I am an editor. Not because I’m a innate grammar geek. And not because I happen to be a closet perfectionist.

Well, all those things factor in, but it’s because someone might have read it! It’s like being caught with your rear end hanging over the potty and there’s a line of people gaping at you. Embarassing? Quite.

What I (and Lynne and many others like us) can’t figure out is why the offenders don’t feel this way. Don’t you care that you’ve just mooned everyone and we now know that your behind is is pink, floppy, and full of pimples? Euwww! Do I want to buy anything from you? Not with that bumpy bottom I don’t.

Where is the commitment to excellence? What happened to going the extra mile? How did this happen?