So long, and good night!

Hi everyone - this is Alex Hanna, Leslie's son. I'm sure by now you have all heard the news. If not, I want to apologize for sharing it in this way.  Yesterday afternoon (Dec. 25), our mother passed away. It was far more sudden than any of us expected. Her family is here, and we are so very grateful for all the support and love over the years.

As you all know, she placed an incredible value on her friends. You are all among her best friends, and for that, I want to share my thanks. She will be missed.

Stutter?

A quick glance would have caught this.

Police identify driver in the deadly crash on on the Las Vegas strip https://t.co/eBKfPNf3wS #StripCrash

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) December 21, 2015

bsltimore ?

No caps, misspelled .. sad.

Retweeted by @ABC7News:

LIVE on #Periscope: Prayer vigil protest in bsltimore https://t.co/GRtxrXnAmE

— Horace Holmes (@ABC7Horace) December 16, 2015

What is a First?

.It was destroyed by a fire, not by a first.
.

Diane Cho has the latest on the first that destroyed the Annapolis Yacht Club: https://t.co/0gEqay89m6 pic.twitter.com/FQjFhO6MbV

— ABC7News (@ABC7News) December 14, 2015

Saved their mother's ... what?

It should be "save their mother" or "save their mother's life".

A Phoenix family would like to find the Good Samaritan they say helped save their mother's. https://t.co/tM1G5El02G

— WUSA9 (@wusa9) December 13, 2015

Is there more than one?

"...have fled the Cuba..." Oh, NPR ...

More than 70,000 have fled the Cuba this year, fearing that policies might soon change. https://t.co/nkM1DIcgKo

— Morning Edition (@MorningEdition) December 9, 2015

Every Day vs Everyday

Something is an everyday occurrence, but you do something every day. You don't do something everyday. That's just wrong.

Make sure you keep up with America's favorite puppy,Bunce! You can checkout his puppy blog everyday! https://t.co/CJFgT107tU

— WUSA9 (@wusa9) December 9, 2015

Basic Conjugation

They beat the Redskins, or they have beaten them. From the Grammarist: "got beat". This is incorrect grammatically, but is firmly established in slang, especially in North America." News agencies should not be using slang, or our society is doomed.

That's a ball game! The #Cowboys have beat the #Redskins 19-16. #MNF #DALvsWAS

— ABC7News (@ABC7News) December 8, 2015

Did you know the State of PA got hate mail (phone calls) for the license plate with the slogan "You've got a friend in Pennsylvania" because it's grammatically incorrect? By using "you've got", it should be "you've gotten". Or else they'd have to say "You have a friend in Pennsylvania". Either way, oops. They changed it back to Keystone State a few years later.

Oh, come on, Newsweek

Copy-paste oops? Did ya read it before you posted?

Drones are no longer reserved for reserved for DIY enthusiasts. Here are 5 drones to consider for #BlackFriday https://t.co/H62NfJq6Fp

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) November 27, 2015

A Third Percent?

Was a half, now a third percent. I think they meant it went from half to a third. Happily, lots of other people called Newsweek out on this, too.

In the 1980s, alcohol was involved in more than half of Thanksgiving traffic fatalities. Now its a third percent https://t.co/SEfsEu3Amp

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) November 26, 2015

They've deleted the tweet and updated it:

In the 1980s, alcohol was involved in more than half of Thanksgiving traffic fatalities. Now it's down to one third https://t.co/SEfsEulbKZ

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) November 26, 2015

Who was pregnant?

The pastor's wife was pregnant, not the pastor. This should be "the pastor's pregnant wife".

Cops make an arrest in the murder of a pregnant pastor's wife in Indiana. At 6:15 what we know about the suspect. #UpWith7

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) November 23, 2015

Sadly, it was AP's fault. I'm sure the local station just copied it:

BREAKING: Indianapolis police arrest man in killing of pregnant pastor's wife during home invasion.

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 23, 2015

Misleading title and context

"no family members stepped forward to make funeral arrangements" is very different than "no records of living family members could be found". The title and original statement make it sound like his family didn't care, which is not the case if you read the article.

People gathered to say goodbye to a veteran after no family members stepped forward to make funeral arrangements. https://t.co/UoZMy837eg

— WUSA9 (@wusa9) November 19, 2015

Too Much Coffee?

This is so sad it's almost funny. I make these mistakes all the time, but I don't send before I correct them, and I'm not a News agency.

Thanks fo rth einfo So Sorry fo rth edrive! pic.twitter.com/zgVpHFCuI2

— Julie Wright (@thejuliewright) November 19, 2015

How Does A Pedestrian Crash?

Okay, this may be news-speak with which I am not familiar, but how does a pedestrian crash? I assume (!) they mean a crash involving a pedestrian.

Pedestrian crash 118 @ Aircraft Dr police on the scene #MDTraffic pic.twitter.com/1lry9te6FI

— Julie Wright (@thejuliewright) November 19, 2015

Again vs Against

Once again, not once against. Come on, Newsweek - it's only 11 words to review before you hit Send.

"Once against we've seen an outrageous attempt to terrorize innocent civilians"—President Obama on #ParisAttacks https://t.co/RYEzg9Dq2t

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) November 13, 2015

Reportedly

It's reportedly. He had reportedly taken ...

Coroner: Nick Cave's teenage son reported had taken LSD before cliff fall https://t.co/reTMzDy0Oj pic.twitter.com/xjFiDjlE59

— UPI.com (@UPI) November 11, 2015

Wow, two in a row

Must be the same person writing these. "Holidays" is plural, not possessive. Lose the apostrophe.

Want to impress your guests with gold cupcakes for the holiday's? Find out how on #GMW with @heirloomdc pic.twitter.com/irpcvmYOsw

— ABC7News (@ABC7News) November 10, 2015

Holidays are not possessive

"Holidays" is not possessive here. Lose the apostrophe.

Holiday's can be both fun and stress free! Check out @heirloomdc holiday decor on #GMW pic.twitter.com/TfJiwkK9Jz

— ABC7News (@ABC7News) November 10, 2015

Oh, AP, So Disappointed

It's a 2-day event, but it's 2 days of auctions (no hyphen). AP, you're better than this. C'mon.

Rare blue diamond expected to fetch up to $55 million in 2-days of jewelry auctions in Geneva: https://t.co/c3sT4hQYky

— The Associated Press (@AP) November 9, 2015

To dash or not?

He is only four years old, but he is a four-year-old boy. Lose the dashes/hyphens since it's not followed by a noun..

Peyton is only four-years-old but is battling a rare form of Leukemia. https://t.co/3vyTlXROLD

— WUSA9 (@wusa9) November 6, 2015

What About Them?

Are they closing?

A company that's been in Dayton for more than a century. The impact on jobs coming up at 6:20 a.m.

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) November 6, 2015

Lost & Found

You're lost, then you're found. It's not a difficult concept.

A boy found missing for more than a decade has been found. More coming up at 6:20 a.m. #upwith7

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) November 5, 2015

Ex-husbands Splitting Up?

Her ex-husbands are talking about splitting up? That's how I first read this. Turns out her exes are talking about her recent split from her current husband. How about "talk about her latest split"?

Halle Berry's ex-husbands talk split https://t.co/FqgkmuDlcM pic.twitter.com/6XAsZBduee

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) November 4, 2015

Eh?

Partents ... should be parents. A brief review of the typed words would have caught that.

A warning for partents: Check your kid's soft drinks. Coming up at 5:15 the drink that could cause problems. #UpWith7

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) November 3, 2015

Get Your Tenses Right

Four people were murdered - past tense. Only 13 words you needed to review.

The Northwest DC home where four people were murder is up for sale. https://t.co/KrUNpPoNv5 pic.twitter.com/E7UQXiDqec

— WUSA9 (@wusa9) November 3, 2015

Passed vs Past

Should be past, not passed. It's even spelled correctly on the sign in the included photo.

TRAFFIC: Crash on NB I-75 passed U.S. 35 has right lane closed. Motorists should expect delays pic.twitter.com/AatmTcWT2U

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) October 31, 2015

Its vs It's

Won "its " game. The word "it's" (with an apostrophe) is a contraction for "it is".  An easy mistake to make, but also easy to catch if you proof-read your copy, especially for someone in the News business.

After a difficult day, Woodson high school wins it's football game 35-28 against West Springfield in overtime pic.twitter.com/i0awc1o4lH

— Richard Reeve (@abc7Richard) October 31, 2015

An Extra "is"

She probably tried to re-word her sentence and missed an "is".

Soccer hugely popular for kids and adults in this area but is the turf beneath their feet is toxic? @ABC7News at 11 pic.twitter.com/xPsnOhywnK

— Jennifer Donelan (@ABC7Jennifer) October 29, 2015

"Is Another Federal Agencies" - Huh?

So difficult to read. Perhaps it should have been "and other federal agencies", or maybe "is another federal agency".

Yes it's true—the #IRS is another federal agencies using StingRay cellphone tracking devices https://t.co/bSxEuJHu17 pic.twitter.com/pEQaurLEaz

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) October 28, 2015

If I Have to Read it Twice ...

Is he in the US illegally, or was he illegally arrested? A comma would help.

Twice-deported Honduran in US illegally charged with kidnapping, raping estranged girlfriend: https://t.co/9d40nqC3pB

— The Associated Press (@AP) October 26, 2015

Who is Patricia Slow Head?

I shouldn't have to read a headline more than once to figure out what the story is about. A comma after Slow would help a lot.

Video: Remnants of Patricia Slow Head This Way https://t.co/UUWjDkmGxk

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) October 25, 2015

Written by a 10-year-old?

The tweet is fine, but the article made my head explode. Who wrote the linked article? A 10-year-old? Certainly no one with a college degree in Journalism would let this go to press without at least a second set of eyes to proof-read it. There are so many typos and missing words I couldn't finish it.

And yes, I called them out on it on Twitter.

CPD have rifle, ammunition, stun gun stolen from officer's car https://t.co/WGZ3JSv73R

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) October 23, 2015

Misplaced Possessive Apostrophe?

I think this should be "Richmond teen's beating death", not "Richmond's teen beating death". Picky, but still ...

60-year prison sentence in Richmond's teen beating death https://t.co/C77M5nBLoM

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) October 21, 2015

Sentenced To, or Sentenced In?

I think this should be "sentenced in". Picky, I know, but it didn't read right to me.

BREAKING: #Piqua man sentenced to decades-old rape case: http://t.co/HFGX1g8jYm

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) October 19, 2015

And in the article, "pleaded" or "pled"?

Huh?

Say what?

Is Sean 'Puffy' Combs is back? http://t.co/AvO0JuUI8s pic.twitter.com/nex8NqCbL4

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) October 17, 2015

Got Spell-check?

Spell-check would have caught this ... present not presnent

Black student group presnent list of demands to UC officials http://t.co/ZRQPSXyCzN

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) October 15, 2015

Another vacant ... what?

According to the article, it was a vacant house.

#UPDATE: Arson investigators on scene of fire in another vacant in Dayton. http://t.co/C4TQWfsh2i

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) October 13, 2015

Four Men By Poachers?

I have no idea what this means. The title of the linked article is the same. After reading the article, rangers were killed by poachers. (Sad.)

Four men by poachers in Congo's Garamba Nantional Park http://t.co/r6dIxJY82k

— UPI.com (@UPI) October 10, 2015

Dover?

Cover, not dover ... Later corrected after someone (not me) pointed it out to them.

McGraw-Hill will offer a sticker to dover caption calling slaves 'workers' in its textbook http://t.co/HGjQjKXi8F pic.twitter.com/0yAPAZEejn

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) October 8, 2015

Could Be Reworded

This tweet makes it sound like the detective shot the Oregon shooter, then shot himself. What really happened is the detective shot the shooter before the shooter could shoot anyone else, or himself. Just a bit confusing.

DA: Detective shot Oregon shooter before he killed himself http://t.co/sUacUuvEKw

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) October 7, 2015

What is a Critical Missing?

What is a "critical missing"? And I hope they find them.

#BREAKING: Our news partner, WCPO, is reporting a critical missing for 2 children last seen in Montgomery County.

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) October 6, 2015

How WHAT works?

Um ... "how all for gadgets work" ... maybe "how all the gadgets work"?

WATCH: A Fairborn police officer let a young boy hang out in a police cruiser and showed him how all for gadgets work http://t.co/My5HuAprT8

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) September 30, 2015

What is a Possible Body?

What is a possible body? Someone reported a body was found on the beach, and it's being investigated. It will be a body or it will be something else, but someone reported a body was found on the beach, right?

UPDATE: Possible body found in beach area of Caesar Creek Lake under investigation http://t.co/4XziEGu2g9

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) September 28, 2015

Just Any Ole Preposition Will Work

This should be "for the" second time, not "in" the second time.

In second time in less than a week, Facebook goes down http://t.co/xYHojgVfv3 pic.twitter.com/XsYLchiEUQ

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) September 28, 2015

Just Two Little Words ...

Ripping pages out Quran, or out of a  Quran?

Video: Street preacher caught on video ripping pages out Quran at Wright State Univ. http://t.co/qOJraLO9XF

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) September 24, 2015

Just before that they got it right:

Man seen on video tearing pages out of Quran calls it confrontational evangelism http://t.co/phd2C6xIpz

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) September 24, 2015

Doris Day, huh?

Later corrected, but still ... Doris Day - seriously?

Pope recognizes four Americans, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Doris Day and Thomas Merton.

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) September 24, 2015

and the correction, 21 minutes later:

That was Dorothy Day earlier the pope recognized, not Doris Day.

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) September 24, 2015

Tenses, People, Tenses

Will find out. It's in the article that way, too.

A local firefighter will found out Friday if he's the winner of $5 million! More here: http://t.co/SRCPCaWpkA

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) September 24, 2015

Yogi Bear?

Unbelievable.

This is the first @AP alert on Yogi Berra's death that landed in inbox, and was clearly written by a 7 year old pic.twitter.com/DBjrtoZhQ1

— Megan Specia (@meganspecia) September 23, 2015

Got Spell-check?

"pssoible" Got spell-check? Geez.

Georgia peanut plant owner to return to court, faces pssoible life in prison in fatal salmonella outbreak: http://t.co/45uUHWCICA

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 20, 2015

Cheef? Got Spell-check?

OMG, "cheef"?! Spell-check would have caught that. Also "ouplan"? It's this way in the article, too. Sad.

Video: CPD interim cheef lays ouplan for officers with FOP Monday http://t.co/Z0lVODqDYn

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) September 15, 2015

Child boy?

What is a child boy? Maybe a boy child? Did they start to write child, then changed it to boy without removing child?

Police search for Milwaukee child boy spotted on BMX bike http://t.co/npd1nH72je

— Wis. State Journal (@WiStateJournal) September 13, 2015

(I hope they find him.)

Extra words

Lose the "when". "the day when an executioner ..."

Psychiatrist Joel Dimsdale’s life changed the day when an executioner of Nazi war criminals paid him a visit http://t.co/ykpWbpVzOf

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) September 11, 2015

Singular/Plural issues

Singular/Plural issues ... basic Elementary School knowledge. "Samples test" or "Sample tests". It's wrong in the linked article's title, too. Turns out three samples were tested ...

Samples tests positive for West Nile virus in Warren County http://t.co/8fDxfq7XDh

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) September 10, 2015

Is that a new number?

What is a billonth?  Six words to proof, people ... six words. Even Spellcheck would have caught this one.

1 billonth Waffle House waffle served http://t.co/meBoNZ6mYW

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) September 9, 2015

A Fire was Destroyed?

A fire was destroyed? A grill exploded and set a house on fire, but ...

UPDATE: Fire destroyed after grill explodes during cookout http://t.co/b6MBR97WbY pic.twitter.com/ikISDvW5UC

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) September 6, 2015

Oh, @AP ...

Fed-up isn't hyphenated. Of all the accounts to make this boo-boo, AP?

Frustrated and fed-up: Donald Trump's supporters allow him to defy laws of political gravity: http://t.co/nCKVJGi4iT

— The Associated Press (@AP) September 6, 2015

It's basic conjugation

Starts petition. Only 11 words to proof ... how tough can this be?

Video: Raw: Falmouth pig owner start petition to keep her pet in town http://t.co/Fv2YoPpwJk

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) September 3, 2015

Deceives? Detectives?

I think they meant detectives.

After deceives from multiple agencies investigated #Olympia officer-involved shootings, findings were handed over to prosecutor's office.

— KIRO 7 (@KIRO7Seattle) September 2, 2015

Didn't even spell-check

"following fatal" ... what? Crash? And describes is misspelled, too. Bonus! Eleven words, people, only eleven words to proof. You didn't even spell-check. Sigh.

Neighbor on scene following fatal Ft. Wright desribes crash as 'horrific' http://t.co/sHJChSdfUi

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) September 2, 2015

Just one letter, people ...

Just one letter: isolated vs isolates. Picky, maybe, but there's only 10 words to proof. How difficult can this be?

Temperatures near 90 today, some isolates showers and storms possible: http://t.co/liWb5fugDK pic.twitter.com/4avhBUMS4z

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) September 2, 2015

Oh, Newsweek ...

It's bad enough I can only read five articles per month, but then you omit a teeny tiny word from a very short tweet:

Yahoo is generous with parental leave, but CEO Marissa Mayer will 'limited time off' http://t.co/Lv2RmTOxzZ pic.twitter.com/uqLmnHEYkj

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) September 1, 2015

"Marissa Mayer will 'limited time off'" -- will what limited time off? "take"? She'll "take limited time off"? Was that so difficult? Sheesh.

Tense over tenses

Yes, I know the meaning comes across anyway, but UPI? The track "has shifted". It's less than 10 words to proof. Geez.

#TSErika's forecast track has shift again, closer to Florida http://t.co/DrPzmCBTb4 pic.twitter.com/8ftkUQWQKq

— UPI.com (@UPI) August 27, 2015

Sentence structure, people ...

"Man honored who pulls over woman now charged with OVI". Was the man charged with OVI or the woman? Turns out it was the woman. At first I thought the man had been charged.

How about this: Man honored for pulling over woman driving erratically. Woman now charged with OVI.

Still under 140 characters, and it makes sense.

Video: Man honored who pulls over woman now charged with OVI http://t.co/wxcKMs60Yd

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) August 26, 2015

When did two become one?

Two cubs were born, one died. "The" newborn didn't die, unless you amend it to say "the smallest cub" has died.

The newborn giant panda cub at the National Zoo has died http://t.co/kZzJkSCrPj pic.twitter.com/FUJ9CswQZj

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) August 26, 2015

It's Just One Letter, But ...

Info, not into ... It's just 13 words, people ...

JUST IN: Crews called to church fire in Harveysburg. More into to come

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) August 23, 2015

Aw, This One Was Too Easy

They later corrected it, but still ...  "barely an inch"

In 3 years of deadly fighting in Aleppo, the battle lines have moved barely and inch http://t.co/iaRGFRM8hS pic.twitter.com/73BIiepUbj

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) August 21, 2015

I Get Tense Over Tenses

Get your tenses right. She "has been" found.

UPDATE: Rosie O'Donnell says daughter is found: http://t.co/WmXCnFtk3Z

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) August 18, 2015

I Know It's Picky, But ...

"responds to Trump who said". I know it's picky, but it's only three letters and a space, and would make this very short tweet more readable.

Klum responds to Trump said she's not a 10 http://t.co/XNMXVFcNLk

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) August 18, 2015

From A School, No Less

Ugh.

Posted by Brenda McCaig on Monday, August 17, 2015

What's a Salong?

What's a salong?

Multiple flight salong Eastern Seaboard delayed http://t.co/pKXKBAVJIy

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) August 15, 2015

Too Many "ing"s

Too many "ing"s make my head hurt. Lose the word "saying" and the sentence still works.

A woman is claiming in a federal lawsuit saying that she was bullied by her town because she rescues stray cats http://t.co/Ldl38w2pmY

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) August 15, 2015

Need More Coffee?

Aw, come on ... it's only eight words.

Acident on Seward Rd near Port Union Rd

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) August 12, 2015

What Other Kind Is There?

A new healthy facility? As opposed to what?

Video: New healthy facility could be life saver for people who live near downtown http://t.co/nm5Y3raaUK

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) August 11, 2015

Aw, Come On, Guys

A phone company by any other name ...

Verixon gives up, makes cell phone plans simple http://t.co/k8Nj9v2zHC

— WIRED (@WIRED) August 8, 2015

Sad Either Way

Not sure, but I think he was indicted in the death of a toddler.

Father indicted in dead toddler found in crib. 's http://t.co/G9ZuMn5LJT

— WHIOTV (@whiotv) August 6, 2015

Worthy of Inclusion

Not from a news agency, but worthy of inclusion:

oh pic.twitter.com/6opBB8HX8E

— jon hendren (@fart) August 1, 2015

I Had No Idea

Lesbian cuisine? That's a new one for me. Maybe he meant Lebanese?

This morning on @CookingChannel: classic Jewish cooking, followed by traditional Lesbian cuisine. Tune in!

— Mo Rocca (@MoRocca) August 2, 2015

Scary Traffic

A stalking semi ... creepy. Probably meant stalled.

Not a pretty back up from stalked semi SB 99 pic.twitter.com/ogk7FFiwZf

— King5TracyT (@King5TracyT) July 31, 2015

I Think She Needs Coffee

Will be ... Hear ... In 20 min

The IOC has spoken: Beijing, China will the the site of the 2022 Winter #Olympic games. Here about it 20 mins on @MorningEdition!

— Ashley S. Westerman (@AS_Westerman) July 31, 2015

A Little Redundancy for Emphasis

Um, if he's knife-wielding, he's got a knife, right?

PHOTO: Security forces reach for a knife-wielding ultra-Orthodox Jew with a knife at a gay pride parade in Jerusalem: http://t.co/FByZuqWlwi

— The Associated Press (@AP) July 30, 2015

Well, That Didn't Take Long

And BOOM! An easy victim.

Video: Harrison teen denied chance to try-out for cheerleading team http://t.co/rYh24acxtr

— WLWT.com (@WLWT) July 23, 2015

An event is a try-out. An individual would be denied the chance to try out (no hyphen).

Why Are We Here?

I am not a copy editor. I am not trained to be one. But I can spell, and I know my word tenses, and I can construct a complete sentence.

Several of my friends and I are mourning the demise of proper word usage, tenses, sentence construction, etc. And it's getting worse. Almost daily we find groan-worthy errors, mostly on Twitter (I'm allergic to Facebook), but occasionally I'll find one on Facebook if I last long enough.

Now I'm not talking your general Twitter or Facebook user. Nope. I excuse those. Well, except for when they repeat the error, over and over again, and it's obvious they don't have a clue. But then I just ignore them.

My main goal here is to shame the news agencies. I'm talking not only local news stations, but national news organizations like Newsweek, AP, UPI, etc. There is NO excuse for these guys to have a typo in a post that's less than 140 characters.

A recent example:

From AP: administration approves permits for limited exploratory oil drilling off Alaskan coach

Coach? I think they meant coast. The same error was in the linked article.

And another one:

Local news on FB: We have confirmed that Governor John Kasich has just gave the authorization...

Has just given. GIVEN, people.

This stuff makes me itch, and I felt it was time to go public with my angst.

I'll add more gaffes here as they come to my attention.

Feel free to correct MY typos as we move along on this adventure. I'd appreciate it, actually.

Let the games begin!