# Have a \*Happy\* Day **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [July 31, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-happy-day/413754 "2007-07-31T01:09:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-happy-day/413754/1 "2007-07-31T01:09:26Z")
Cecil’s column: [Who invented the smiley face?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_031.html) The slogan going with the smiley face is always quoted as “Have a happy day” in the column. I don’t remember that, although I was in high school when the fad started. But later, I heard it as “Have a nice day.” Anyone know when or how the slogan changed? Or am I just mixing up a catch phrase from later on with the original slogan? I know I’ve seen stuff with the smiley and HAND, though. Edit: I wonder if Harvey Ball’s gravestone has a smiley face on it? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/59ef9b/32.png) [@Don\_t\_fight\_the\_hypothetical](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_fight_the_hypothetical)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-happy-day/413754/2 "2007-07-31T03:16:21Z")
Gahk! I came here to post that very thing. Guess I’ll just stick around to see. In the linked column even Unka Cees says: “IF I SEE ONE MORE FREAKING SMILEY FACE I AM GOING TO THROW UP. Thank you, and **have a nice day**.” ---
**Author:** ![John\_W.Kennedy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_w.kennedy/32/1031_2.png) [@John\_W.Kennedy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_W.Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-happy-day/413754/3 "2007-07-31T03:35:58Z")
It was remembered as “happy” as early as 1977. I’m not sure what it actually was ca. 1970. ---
**Author:** ![balok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/958977/32.png) [@balok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/balok)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-happy-day/413754/4 "2007-07-31T12:49:22Z")
Frankly, my day would have been happier and nicer if someone had explained to whichever of Cecil’s minions never learned distinguish “principle” from “principal” that there’s a quite simple mnemonic to help you: if you’re using it as an adjective, then it has to have an “a” in it; if you’re using it as a noun, remember that the principal is your pal. –Balok, the last man on earth or in the First Federation who still cares about spelling and grammar ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2007, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-happy-day/413754/5 "2007-07-31T14:14:40Z")
[QUOTE=balok] –Balok, the last man on earth or in the First Federation who still cares about spelling and grammar [/QUOTE] omg ur rite u roxxors 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2007, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-a-happy-day/413754/6 "2007-08-04T04:18:43Z")
[QUOTE=balok] Frankly, my day would have been happier and nicer if someone had explained to whichever of Cecil’s minions never learned distinguish “principle” from “principal” that there’s a quite simple mnemonic to help you: if you’re using it as an adjective, then it has to have an “a” in it; if you’re using it as a noun, remember that the principal is your pal. –Balok, the last man on earth or in the First Federation who still cares about spelling and grammar [/QUOTE] Better lay off the tranya, man.