Years ago, I came across the following headline in a publisher-related newsletter:
Speculative Authors Fight Mental Illness
I thought to myself, I know what they meant by the headline, but could it also be interpreted that authors who write speculative fiction are mentally ill? Some call science fiction and fantasy writers “weird,” but this headline was going too far.
So I clicked the link in the newsletter and was taken to the original article, where the headline declared the following:
Science Fiction Authors Unite to Support Mental Illness
Again, I knew what they meant, but the headline could be saying that “science fiction authors are in favor of mental illness!” Maybe it would have been better to have written “… unite to support those with mental illness,” as someone commented on the page.
The news of authors coming together to support efforts to combat various challenges people and families face was nice to read. Unfortunately, my editorial mind was distracted.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not criticizing the publication. My point is that we can unintentionally distract our readers if our words can be read in unintended ways.
Some infamous headlines:
Statistics Show That Teenage Pregnancy Drops Off Significantly After Age 25
Medical Marijuana Delivery Man Attacked by Ninjas
Man Accused of Killing Lawyer Receives New Attorney
Northfield Plans to Plan Strategic Plan
Federal Agents Raid Gun Shop, Find Weapons
Christians Will Play Atheists in Charity Volleyball Match
Students Cook & Serve Grandparents
Senior Center Holds Old Bag Sale
Homeless Man Under House Arrest
Planes Forced to Land at Airports
China May Be Using Sea to Hide Submarines
Hospitals Resort to Hiring Doctors
Cows Lose Their Jobs as Milk Prices Drop
State Population to Double by 2040; Babies to Blame
Ex-Minister Breaks Silence, Says Nothing
Admission?
Have you written an unintentional sentence or headline that would be considered a gaffe?
(Please keep your stories or examples G-rated.)
Below is an embarrassing public ad for learning software that missed a rather glaring grammatical error:
