Random Acts of Editing

My current job is the first one (besides Peace Corps) where I don't share a building with a bunch of other editors. One reason I like this is I discover gems such as this sign posted on the shared refrigerator:

[As always you may click to embiggen.] I didn't want to leave obnoxious red marks on the sign, yet I couldn't let it stand. So I stole it, quickly worked up a corrected version (matching font and line breaks), and replaced it. Stealth editor superhero.

For the record, notice the sign doesn't forbid partaking of [opened] leftover bottle's of wine. Not that I would consider helping myself to such a thing, of course. But even the most modest of superheroes needs her just reward.

Comments

[SteveO]

I'm trying to figure out why the author mingled the correct spellings of "juices" "waters" "limits" and "questions" among the boners (Merriam-Webster definition 2). I guess it's better left unexplored.

[Mark]

You work with Persians?

[Erin]

*shudder* the improper use of apostrophe's give's me hive's.

....

And now you'll have to excuse me while I go twitch for a while. Writing the above sentence just about did me in.

[Jennifer]

Wow, I didn't know you were an editor. I like editor's.

So. Do stealth superhero's get to enjoy leftover luncheon wine? Or were there at least other leftover's worth partaking of?

(Yep, that sentence ended in a preposition, folks. But don't worry. I'm a professional. I'm allowed to do that.)

[Daddy Sherpa]

I'm surprised you didn't make any reference to your favorite stealth apostrophe in Harpers Ferry! For the benefit of all, you can see it here:

http://juliloquy.typepad.com/juliloquy/2006/04/possession.html

[sgazzetti]

"At least" they didn't do the old favorite of adding quotation marks for "emphasis". I "hate" that.

[Peter]

From an old Dave Barry column my wife now uses in her grammar classes:

"TRY" OUR HOT DOG'S

[Night Editor]

I still mess up the most complicated of possessives so I won't be too hard on this person. And I laugh thinking about what kinds of questions he/she thinks might arise: "Who you saving the beer for? Did State Dollars pay for this? How come we don't get luncheons?"

[Niki]

HA! The note is funny in and of itself. The fact that you went through all the effort to correct it covertly is hysterical.

[BOSSY]

And, you know, if wine is already opened...

[kilowatthour]

the inconsistency is the best part. so awesome.

[el-e-e]

GAH.

I'm one of those mean, terrible people who'd just walk by it every time and curse, "IDIOTS!" under my breath. I love that you fixed it. Do-gooder. ;)

[Xdm]

There may have been some juice in the sodas, right?

[SteveO]

maybe somebody named Soda brought some juice?