Everyone Screws Up--Even Webster's!

Typos.

They happen to everyone. But for some strange reason, I've met a lot of writers (especially newer writers) who all but hide their head in shame whenever someone points one out in their WIP. And the more typos that person points out, the more embarrassed the writer becomes. Hell--I've seen a few who have gotten downright irate about it (not around the blogosphere, of course).

I know I used to get a little red in the face about my typos.

(Though I've never gotten angry with the person who pointed it out. That's just plain silly.)

But here's a little fun fact for you:

Everyone screws up.

I know. It's hard to believe you're not the only one out there who hits the wrong key. (Or types the wrong word all together.) But it's true. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time.

Even Webster's Dictionary.

That leads me into the story of dord. Dord isn't actually a typo, per se--it's a ghost word.

A ghost word, according to the Wiki definition, "is a word that has been published in a dictionary or similarly authoritative reference work, or has been adopted as genuine as the result of errors in communication, such as misinterpretations or typographical errors."

In 1934, "dord" was listed on page 771 of Webster's New International Dictionary as a noun with a simple, one-word meaning: density. But as it happens, no such word exists. How did it happen?

Well, I did a little snooping...before realizing Snopes.com (that handy little tool) did all the snooping for me. Yay!

Annnyway--you can read the whole story HERE, but this is the short version:

In Webster's first edition, the entries for abbreviations were littered in with the rest of the words. It most likely came off as a giant clusterf*ck, so they changed it in the second edition and gave abbreviations their own section in the back. Buuuut, as with most well-laid plans, something went a little wrong. A card that read "D or d, cont/ density" was prepared to go to the abbreviation pile, but through some error, ended up in the word pile instead. D or d soon became dord, and thus, a nonexistent synonym for density was born.

It took five years for an editor to catch the mistake and have dord eradicated.

So, if you ever find yourself in possession of one of these:

Flip to page 771 and let the warm fuzzies rain down on you. Because you're not the only one who makes mistakes.

Also! Since we're on the subject of typos, I thought I'd direct you to DamnYouAutoCorrect.com, a sometimes vulgar (can't say I didn't warn you), but always hilarious website where people post their best auto correct screw ups.

Double also! I thought I'd share a few of my most ridiculous typos to, hopefully, supply you guys with some lulz.

"I don't want to believe it, but I can't deny the grime sincerity in his voice." --DARK WATER, meant to be "grim."

Vidette can't deny the dirty sincerity. No one can.

"He scrubs at his face with his face." --DARK WATER, meant to be "sleeve."

Just...how? The images that conjures up are priceless.

"Or maybe he's still fuming about me hanging up on him last night and he's here to rip my hare off." --BROKEN, meant to be "head."

Kelvin's just arrived to steal Skye's rabbit, all because she hung up on him. Tisk, tisk--the youth of today.

Do you have any lulz-worthy typos you want to share?

Do your typos/mistakes embarrass you or do you laugh them off?

HAPPY WRITING, LOVELIES!