# Typos that completely change the intended meaning **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 1, 2009, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476 "2009-09-01T13:28:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/41 "2009-09-02T03:30:22Z")
> [@74westy](#): > > Female non-smoker, non-drinker seeks male non-smoker, non-dinker. That might not even _be_ a typo. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/42 "2009-09-02T07:37:02Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > No. He failed to control his shit, which flew wide of the post and struck a supporter sitting in row G. > > This incident famously spawned the expression, ‘when the shit hits the fan’. Bra. Vo. _golf clap_ ---
**Author:** ![GESancMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gesancman/32/2923_2.png) [@GESancMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GESancMan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/43 "2009-09-02T08:24:38Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > There’s a parking lot near me with a sign that someone removed the letter ‘e’ from, so that it now reads “PAY HER IN ADVANCE” There’s this religious retreat - or something, I don’t know what it is exactly - called The Grotto, and it’s in a not-so-nice part of town. About a mile away is a road sign: “The Grotto —\>” A few years ago, someone altered the sign, so that it said “The Ghetto —\>”. It stayed that way for months. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/44 "2009-09-02T09:15:02Z")
I once posted a George-from-Seinfeld-inspired thread. A typo made it say: “I just ate a clock of cheese the size of a car battery!” And I emailed my new ladyfriend the other day, inadvertantly asking: “Did you enjoy hosing your guests?” ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/45 "2009-09-02T13:54:10Z")
Today’s Lafayette _Journal and Courier_ food section contains an article about a new Indian (as in from India) fast-food restaurant in town. On the front page of the paper, however, is a “What’s inside” teaser which implores the reader to “[c]heck out Shaukin for the ‘hot dogs and hamburgers of Indiana cuisine.’” Since I am in Indiana, I can assure you that such dishes as Papdi Chaat and samosas aren’t as familiar to most of this state’s denizens as are frankfurters and Big Macs… ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/46 "2009-09-02T16:19:30Z")
When I was living in Japan, at a particular store in Harajuku that had labeled its clothing sections in English, they managed to get “shirts” right on every sign but one, which read: **Wool Shits** ---
**Author:** ![velvetjones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f9b8f/32.png) [@velvetjones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velvetjones)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/47 "2009-09-02T17:13:58Z")
When I was growin up every morning my school bus would pass a certain subdivision. There was a brick wall at the entrance to the subdivision with big block letters bolted on to the brick spelling the name of the subdivision WINTER PARK PINES. Every now and again some pranksters would reverse the I and the E in PINES. Penis ensued. Eventually they removed the letters and just painted the name on the brick. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/48 "2009-09-02T17:50:16Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I mentioned this before, but I used to be a notary public. And yes, that unfortunate typo did appear once in the training manual. It must really hurt to apply the notary seal! ---
**Author:** ![Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8edcca/32.png) [@Superfluous\_Parentheses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superfluous_Parentheses)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/49 "2009-09-02T18:00:20Z")
[Large Hardon Collider](http://largehardoncollider.com/nyt_lhc.html) ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/50 "2009-09-03T15:11:30Z")
> [@Ultraviolet](#): > > I once worked at an elementary school with a new teacher who had an unruly seventh grade class. When he sent out a memo to parents about the upcoming trip to the “pubic library”, he lost all control of his class for the rest of the year. Poor guy! I once worked on a contract at the Department of Housing and Urban Development. A colleague once caught a document they were working on, JUST before it went to the client, that discussed Pubic Housing. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/51 "2009-09-03T15:27:45Z")
“Open Monday Thur Saturday.” is a bit different than “Open Monday _Thru_ Saturday”. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/52 "2009-09-03T15:34:01Z")
[Beef panties](http://www.regrettheerror.com/wire-service/mmmmbeef-panties). ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/53 "2009-09-04T04:52:55Z")
I’ve shared this before. I once worked as a proofreader for a savings & loan. A typo that I nearly (_nearly and **deliberately** _) allowed out the door was a salutation: > [@](#): > > Dear Sir or Madman: ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/54 "2009-09-04T05:52:59Z")
I was emailing my professor and wrote “please excuse my excessive abscesses.” Caught the typo before sending the email though. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Heckity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Heckity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heckity)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/55 "2009-09-04T15:37:12Z")
A note I left for my mother, written in panic read: “I’ve taken Dad to the hospital. He’s not had another heart attack, but the doctor recommends it.” I was thrilled to receive my new business cards years ago. I’d given many out before someone noticed I was a “Pubic Relations Officer”. Twenty-four and kinda hot - it took me a while to match up the lewd offers with the typo on my business card. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/56 "2009-09-04T17:06:37Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > “Open Monday Thur Saturday.” is a bit different than “Open Monday _Thru_ Saturday”. Another reason “thru” and “donut” should be banned. BANNED!!! Although, if the typo was “Thur”, it’s not like you’ll show up on a day they’re not open. Three days will just be busier than the others. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/57 "2009-09-04T17:17:50Z")
I shared this one last year when it happened but it bears repeating. A student entered a poem for the school literary mag. It was supposed to read God saw she was getting tired and a cure was not to be So he put his arms around her and whispered “Come With Me”. That’s not [how it appeared in print.](http://www.flickr.com/photos/28949748@N06/2700917851/) It also makes the next line particularly hysterical. Worst thing of all: it turned out to be plagiarized from a sympathy card! (We had to take an X-acto knife to every copy of the journal; luckily there was nothing on the other side.) ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/58 "2009-09-04T19:19:34Z")
:dubious: How do you get “anus” from “arms”? They’ve only got one letter in common. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/59 "2009-09-04T19:30:30Z")
But they have four “humps” (heh) between the a and the s. Some folks make all humps the same shape, up into a point and back down. Cursive versions of anus and arms could look very similar. Although, the typist/typesetter might have paused a moment to think. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [September 4, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476/60 "2009-09-04T19:46:59Z")
> [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](#): > > :dubious: How do you get “anus” from “arms”? They’ve only got one letter in common. :smack: Er, make that two letters. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/typos-that-completely-change-the-intended-meaning/508476.md?page=4)