VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:42 pm Post subject: The Rocket Science Apostrophe App

yet it's not rocket science ... though you'd think proper usage of the apostrophe is the way it's so regularly misapplied.

CONDO'S FOR SALE

caught my eye today. Big banner. Made me wince. Then think. I wonder if printers also pick up on these errors but figure they'll do the job the way the customer wants it done.
For all the mistakes we endure daily in copy --grammatical, in spelling, or syntax--how easy is it for you to let it go? I used to be slightly type A about it. Now, I assume that's what they (copywriter, producer, client et al) want so that's what they get.
And we know when there are errors discovered after the audio is in the can that redo=another $ack.
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BenWils · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 5:31 pm Post subject:

Their, they're D-Mag's ; Every one make's misteaks hear and their. I just trie to let them slyde if et al posibbble. I no I hardlie ever mack misteaks myselvf, theirfour I just trie and led by exmaple. I hop you due to. Or iz that tooo? One "O" or too? I give up Laugh

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Lizden · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 5:41 pm Post subject:

My eyes hurt!!!!!! Shocked

L.
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Don G. · King's Row Joined: 11 Nov 2004 Posts: 1071 Location: MA

Geez, I wish I could find the one I saw the other day. It was a promo for ABC-TV. It featured a series of signs quickly edited, and yet I forget what they were even promoting because all my eyes saw was a sign which read Your fired!. I actually spent some time online trying to find it so that I could:
a. be certain I wasn't seeing things
b. fire off a letter to ABC.

(What do you mean I need to get a life!?)

CarynClark · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject:

I am completely and totally anal about these types of things. Not to brag, but I'm a pretty darn good proofreader and copyeditor, and these things pop to me like candy to a child.

In vo copy, I fix the grammar, b/c if I don't, I'll find myself stumbling over the words b/c I'm not able to correctly interpret what's being said. I'm talking misplaced apostrophes, etc. I don't correct their writing. I read what they write.

When watching channels that have the scroll at the bottom, I catch errors ALL THE TIME!! Even on networks. It kills me. Why can't people take the time to check? Well, I guess that IS the problem... time. Nowadays, news, etc. is to be communicated so immediately that there is no time to check.

We have a weekly paper here that started about 6 mos. ago... I offered to do the proofreading, but they didn't take me up on it... they already had a proofreader, and she's actually listed in the side column in the staff, which I find very unusual. Anyway, every week, I find a number of typos, and I have this urge to call them to offer to proof for them, but I don't. Today, I found a typo in an article on the cover page!!! Again, I know time is a factor, but this is a WEEKLY newspaper.

Ok... ahem... I'm stepping down off my soapbox now. (Clearly, this hits a nerve with me.)
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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

Lizden · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:00 pm Post subject:

Breathe, Caryn...breathe....long....deeeeeep breaths...... Wink

I feel your pain though!
It drives my husband crazy when I point stuff out on TV.....on signage.....in magazines.....newspapers...... /sigh/

L.
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Liz de Nesnera O.A.V. ~ Livin' The VO Dream!
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Audiogal · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 7:43 pm Post subject:

What they said. Thank goodness, I'm not the only one going nuts over this stuff!
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Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

The apostrophe is correct - if it's a contraction of "CONDOMINIUMS" as if the apostrophe is standing in for "MINIUM". Smile

Very old school, perhaps archaic, punctuation.

Unfortunately, I'm sure that's not the rule that they're following. Instead, it's probably The "ZOMG! THERE'S' AN S'''' THER'E'S' GOTS' TO BE AN APOS'TROPHE AROUND IT'S PLACE!" Rule
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CarynClark · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:10 am Post subject:

I know Liz.... I do get all a twitter about these things.

Oh oh oh oh..... Lance, you ARE kidding right??? A contraction is generally a combo of the verb "to be" and auxiliary verbs. While nouns can be contracted (proper nouns are common... others aren't as common) it's in conjunction with a verb... not just to shorten the noun itself.

Bitchin

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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

todd ellis · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:12 am Post subject:

guess she told you, lance.

?????????????????
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CarynClark · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:15 am Post subject:

Yeah, no joking around about grammar.... there's no room for sense of humor in my book. Just kidding.

Perhaps I should've asked you if you were serious before giving the grammar lesson. Sorry. Embarrassed

Ok, that's two red-faced icons for me in a matter of 5 minutes on the board... I'm going to timeout now.
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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

Lance Blair · M&M Joined: 03 Jun 2007 Posts: 2281 Location: Atlanta

Well, I did say it was an archaic use of punctuation, didn't I? Wink

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mcm · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:43 am Post subject:

I was in the middle of writing to a client yesterday to ask if they wanted me to change "lay" to "lie", in a mattress commercial (as in, "if you lay on one, you'll want to buy it!"). Then I just hit delete without sending. The script was approved, and it's in a rural area where they might think that by telling untruths while on this mattress you'll want to buy the mattress, so if you buy it, they'll know you were telling untruths and....

My childhood was enriched by all the typos in the world. My family would go out to eat and we kids would shriek with joy every time we found another one on the menu.

CarynClark · Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 7:53 am Post subject:

Mary, I often ask for a free dessert when I find a typo on a menu. LOL.... Gasp

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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

anthonyVO · 14th Avenue Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 1470 Location: NYC