Maybe you've noticed those signs in front of churches. They're kind of like spiritual billboards trying to point the way to heaven in the two seconds you have to see them as you pass.
I saw one this morning that said 'The sky shall like up with fire'
hmm . . .
No one said the signs had to be correct but the editor in me always cries out for them to make sense. There's a big difference between writing what we write and writing what we mean to write.
I noticed another sign a few miles down the road (not a church sign): The Greenwood Golf Curse will be open starting May 1.
I almost went back and looked at this one again.
As writers, it isn't always easy to spot mistakes in what we write. We seem to be born with an innate skill for words and don't really notice if they need polishing or rethinking. We write what's in our heads but the words don't always make it to the paper (or sign, in this case).
And before you ask, Spellcheck can only do so much for you on this. In fact, my Spellcheck doesn't know the difference between it's and its. If I paid attention to it, I'd always be wrong.
You have to read what you've written to see these glaring mistakes. It may not be exciting but at least you'll be able to spot stupid things that shouldn't be there. Wanting it to be perfect, like saying exactly what you mean, are two different things.
It must have been the day for it, because on the way home, I saw another church sign that read: 'Are you passing threw life without God?'
There is so much wrong with that, I don't know where to start.
But I have a sign of my own that could be helpful: SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO READ TO RIGHT!
Get it?
Joyce Lavene
www.joyceandjimlavene.com
1 comment:
Yes, Joyce, I do. You either laugh or scratch your head, or both. But its not just church signs. I recently read an article in the paper about a woman who gave birth on the freeway. The article proudly announced she "gave birth to a newborn". Didn't know there was any other kind.
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