This came in an e-mail from a friend, another English teacher. It’s a great example of an occupational hazard — we just can’t help noticing lapses in other people’s writing!

Is proofreading an important life skill? You be the judge.

I had a colonoscopy last Friday and the receptionist told me I needed to read the anesthesia disclaimer before signing it - that the nurse would require my signature on a form stating that I had read and understood it. Right in the MIDDLE of the list of awful stuff that can happen to the patient was this statement:

“…may aggravate preEXITING conditions.” Given the nature of the procedure, I was amused. In a more serious situation, I would have found the misspelling ominous. The nurse was NOT amused. … I am definitely in the wrong business!

Sometimes a sense of humor is just not optional.

Posted Fri, 28 Sep 2007 00:01:00 and filed under Bloopers, eNotes. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.