Proofreed...er, I mean Proofread

I drive the same route to work everyday, listening to the same radio station, passing the same buildings, laughing at the same stupidly written sign. Yeah, that’s right, I find endless amusement in a sign on the side of the road.

What I find so amusing is the fact that they list their phone number, and then spell it out in parentheses to help commuters to better remember it. Not unlike how Papa John’s have arranged all of their phone numbers to end in the final four digits 7272, which neatly spells out “PAPA.” It’s a common practice, nothing odd there. Except for how this particular establishment spells out its number (I’ll hide the area code and prefix to save them some embarrassing phone calls):

XXX-XXX-5111 (LOVE)

I’ve looked at the number pads on several phones and not one has ever had 5111 spell out “LOVE.” In fact, the “1” key has no letter associated with it whatsoever. So, if a wary traveler does see the sign, and happens to associate that amorous word with the church’s phone number, he will dial 5683 instead and get the wrong business; perhaps even a confused and angry homeowner tired of the calls will berate him.

Anytime any information from your business is being published for public consumption, check, double check, and triple check it. Then, have another person proofread it, then proofread it again, and finally proofread it. Having a third person do the same couldn’t hurt.

Major corporations have staffs comprised of copy writers, technical writers, copy editors, marketing writers, etc. to check every scrap of writing for errors before it goes to print and then distributed to the public. You’ll very seldom see poor grammar or misinformation in a pamphlet or advertisement for the big boys of business.

Since you’re likely a bit smaller than them, the best you can do is proofread, proofread, and proofread. Be absolutely certain that a potential customer on his daily commute isn’t going to take a quick digital picture of your sign and send it in to the late night shows for the whole world to laugh at.

Not that I would do that or anything.

Franchise "Creature Feature" Writer