When it comes to mistakes, humans have better memories than elephants, and a single typo can spread like wildfire, leaving a lasting impact on your reputation. From historical blunders to modern-day mishaps, proofreading fails have made their mark on history, often at a steep price. Whether it’s a costly error that led to a business losing millions or a harmless slip that turned into a viral joke, these mistakes remind us of one crucial lesson: attention to detail matters. I’ve had quite a giggle gathering and checking some of the biggest proofreading fails in history, and it goes to show why meticulous proofreading should always be a priority in your business;
1. A British Classic: The “Grauniad” Nickname (1970s)
The British newspaper The Guardian has long embraced its accidental nickname, “The Grauniad,” first coined in the 1970s by the satirical magazine Private Eye. Known for its surprising number of typos at the time, The Guardian was gently mocked by Private Eye, who called attention to its frequent “little errors” by deliberately misspelling its name. Rather than brushing off the critique, The Guardian leaned into the joke, sometimes even using “Grauniad” in jest to refer to itself.
Lesson: Embracing your brand’s quirks can be a charming way to handle errors, but don’t let typos become your brand identity!
2. The Most Expensive Hyphen: NASA’s Mariner 1 (1962)
NASA’s Mariner 1 had to be destroyed after going off course due to a missing hyphen (well, actually is was an overbar) in its guidance software, costing $80 million. Sci-fi author Arthur C. Clarke (remember him?) called it “the most expensive hyphen in history”.
Lesson: A ‘minor’ typo in tech or code can have major consequences!
3. Thou Shalt Commit Adultery: The Sinners’ Bible (1631)
One missing word turned a 10 Commandment into “Thou shalt commit adultery.” King Charles I was not amused and quickly recalled all 1000 copies, leaving publishers with hefty fines.
Lesson: Proofread religious texts very carefully!
4. Haunted Dictionaries: Webster’s “Dord” Ghost Word (1939)
An editor’s note about whether the word density should start with “D or d” accidentally made its way into Webster’s New International Dictionary as a real word: “Dord”. No one noticed and other dictionaries even copied the “ghost word”! The mistake went unnoticed for about five years until an editor finally spotted it in 1939.
Lesson: Cross-check terms and details, especially in publications others will reference!
5. Spinach Isn’t That Super: Popeye’s Iron Error (1870)
A chemist misplaced a decimal point, reporting spinach’s iron content as 10 times its actual value, leading to the idea of it as a superfood. Even Popeye got in on it!
Lesson: Check your facts; a myth might stick around for generations!
6. Google’s Name Mistake (1997)
While brainstorming names for their data-index website, Larry Page’s partner, Sean Anderson, suggested “googolplex” – one of the largest describable numbers. Page shortened it to “googol”, but when Anderson checked the domain’s availability, he mistyped it as “google”. The search engine’s name was born! It worked out in this case, but not every typo will turn into an iconic brand!
Lesson: Proofread your brand names! Few typos will be as lucky as “Google” was.
7. Alitalia’s $10,000 Mistake (2006)
Alitalia accidentally listed business-class tickets for $300 instead of $10,000. Thousands of customers booked it, and the airline took a serious financial hit. It’s not the only time. In 2012, a promo code on Alitalia’s Japanese website discounted flights by $315, making some shorter-haul flights free!
Lesson: Check prices carefully before launching an offer, especially if it’s online!
8. Royal Mail’s Accidental “Remain” Stamp (2016)
Ahead of the Brexit vote, Royal Mail mistakenly printed stamps with a “Remain” design. The error was caught in time, but not before significant money and effort had been wasted.
Lesson: Avoid political misprints and double-check campaigns tied to significant events!
9. The $225 Million Comma: Rogers Communications (2006)
In a Canadian contract, a misplaced comma allowed for early contract termination, costing Rogers Communications a whopping $225 million.
Lesson: Even punctuation needs proofreading, especially in legal documents! One comma can mean the difference between profit and loss.
10. Macy’s $1,500 Necklace for $47: Was it a typo? (2013)
Macy’s made a costly typo in a nationally distributed flyer, accidentally advertising a $1,500 necklace for just $47. The mistake appeared in a “Super Buy” ad and resulted in hundreds of purchases. Not only did this error cost Macy’s money, but it also led to the writer of the ad losing their job. Is it an honest mistake or a publicity stunt? Who knows, but…
Lesson: Don’t lose your job over a typo; hire a proofreader!
My final takeaway… from laughable to downright costly, these mistakes prove that proofreading is essential for business. Extra time and attention could save you from big blunders and a reputation hit! If you want help to ensure your copy is flawless before publishing, email me at vanessa@vanessatheproofreader.com
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