Titles Make All the Difference

It's always amazes me the amount of products that you can come across when you start looking, that contain odd or funny text, typos or just bad grammar. Then, there are those products that you wonder to yourself - why? Who on earth thought this was a good idea? For example the following photo of a current cookbook.

The title is “Dump Meals.” Don't get me wrong, I understand the purpose - that it is supposed to be fast and easy for busy people that don't want to deal with a lot of prep. However I can't be the only one who doesn't want the word “Dump” anywhere near something I'm going to eat.

Can you imagine listening in to that pitch meeting? Publisher asks: “So, what is the title for your new cookbook?” “Dump Meals” the author replies, smiling. “Are you sure?” the bewildered publisher asks. “Yep.” she says, and since he had no idea how to talk her out of it, that is what the title became.

If you look at the bottom of the cover, the book even gives you a suggestion as to how to spend the rest of your evening. “Just Dump and Slow Cook” it says.

There is even a dessert version of this cookbook called “Dump Cakes” in case you aren't completely satisfied at the end of your “Dump” dinner.

I hope you are having a productive week. Please remember me if you need something edited or proofed and Thanks for visiting!

You Can Find it Everywhere

I recently went to a toy train show with my husband and when I saw this, I couldn't resist snapping a photo of a sign on one of the tiny buildings.  As you can see it is advertising Bergerman's Better Burgers. Its a cute sign, but I couldn't help focusing on the big error in the sign. It says "All Are Made with Fresh Ground And Meat." Do I even want to know what "And Meat" is? The gentleman who owned the layout was very nice and seemed to just consider us great toy train enthusiasts, so I politely kept quiet about the sign. My comment here is: Always ask someone to check whatever you are writing before you hit print. (Feel free to contact me for any copy editing services. What.. you didn't know there would be a pitch at the end?)  Happy Tuesday!

 Here is the photo:

If You Need Help, Ask

Greetings,
I recently received an FM Transmitter for the car as a gift. But this is not about that, it is about the user manual that came with the product. It contains the usual directions for set up and is in several languages. When you come to the page called "Precautions" it has the usual bulleted list such as "Never use in moist or underwater conditions," I thought Oh darn! I can't use this in my submarine..
It continues with "Never use in direct sunlight." That one's understandable, but the second to last on the list is where the writer runs into trouble. Its obvious that they needed more help translating what they were trying to say in English. You wonder, did the translator go to lunch and the typist decided to try and continue without them? How hard could it be, this writing in English thing? Here's what they came up with: "Never fall it down to floor."

That isn't even remotely close to being correct, but it certainly made my day! I'll make sure I "never fall it down to floor."  LOL.  :D
Have a Happy Week!

P.S. If you or someone you know needs proofreading or copy editing services, feel free to e-mail me and I'll be glad to help.