Gifted Typist

Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage
- William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

Here is another crop of eggcorns from the Eggcorn Database. Remember the eggcorn from a previous post? They are the fun little mistakes that actually work. In fact some like “deep seeded” work so well, they should be a straight replacement for the correct term “deep seated” which is more obscure in meaning.
deep seeded for [...]

Still trying to find those naughty WMDs? Well, look here.

Just days ago, GT’s Chief Cheddar correspondent Rowan wrote this comment in response to our request for a fave song.
I think mine must be the Monster Mash by Bonzo Dog Do Dah Band / Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett a mad song from the sixties.. I just think its funny and obviously composed through that weird world [...]

No one is more surprised than this typist to hear how good the new CBC Radio arts program is sounding. Q is hosted by Jian Ghomeshi weekday afternoons at 2 pm on Radio 1.
Launched a couple of weeks ago, the show covers the arts, entertainment and popular culture. Being CBC its focus is (and should [...]

Imglish is a real-time language. Often you’re back and forth with someone on another computer or mobile phone. It’s important to let the other person know when you are leaving so as not to leave them hanging. My favourite sign-off is ttfn or ta ta for now, a Britishism in circulation long before the [...]

Every blogger knows the thrill of checking their stats first thing in the morning and seeing more hits than usual. (GT averages 150-200 hits per day with spikes on Fridays.) But what happens when you see hundreds of hits more than usual?
This very thing occurred this morning. What was going on? Well, if [...]

Sometimes an old word just won’t do. And sometimes the old word just doesn’t exist. Sometimes language evolves because it has to. And other times it evolves because it’s more fun to say nastygram than rude letter.
Nastygram – a letter/notice of slightly obnoxious content – it seems usually used in reference to spammed [...]

You can’t even call these bloopers or flub-ups because they came from Philip, the Duke of Diplomacy. He will have meant every racist, bigoted, stupid thing he said – from the bottom of his heart. You’ll notice that Canada is one of his favourite targets. Canadians should be honoured.
1. To a driving instructor he [...]

I declare this thing open – whatever it is.
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, opening a new annex at Vancouver City Hall

Mine is “Heroes” by David Bowie. What’s yours?
“Heroes” is a song about two lovers who meet at the Berlin Wall beneath an exchange of Cold War bullets. They know their relationship is doomed because they are from opposite sides of the wall, yet they find a way to seize the moment and extract the joy.
The [...]

You’ve heard of mixing your metaphors. Well, how about blending your idioms: That book was a real “page-burner.” Or  “I guess that’s how the cookie bounces.”
An idiom blend isn’t a mixed metaphor or a malapropism, exactly. It’s the union of two similar phrases to make a third phrase. For example:
Page turner + barn burner = [...]

Remember when packing your bags for a weekend trip away was a simple process of getting a bag, chucking in an extra pair of pants, clean socks and fresh underpants? Oh those were the days.
Today you need experience working in Future Shop in order to locate and assemble all the technology you will need for [...]

Rumour has it that the Prince William and Kate Middleton bust-up has to do with class. He’s a royal; she’s a middle class gal who uses the word “toilet” which is considered very middle class.
Well, everyone, including the royals, has a bladder and everyone occasionally has to empty it. But what do you call the [...]

More examples of the English language interpreted by those who speak other languages. Remember, people of a different sex, no sleeping in the same tent in the Black Forest unless married for purposes of sleeping in the same tent in the Black Forest.
In a Vienna hotel: In case of fire, do your utmost to [...]