By now, you likely have gotten very good at spotting chronic goofs. Here are some classic news clichés. You fill in the blank. Some you’ve seen before in “Horribly Wrong.” (Note: this also can be played as a drinking game.) Good night and good ——!*
An Albuquerque man was freed Monday after spending 10 years in prison for a crime he _____.
It’s not a matter of if, ____.
Hoping for the best but _______.
Their dream vacation turned into ____.
During the shootout, neighbors looked on in ___.
Residents are breathing a sigh of ___.
Police have many questions but ___.
The tornado sounded like a ___.
The traffic jam turned the highway into a ___.
The residents fled with nothing but the ______.
Residents can only hope, and ____.
1. Didn’t commit.
2. But when.
3. Preparing for the worst.
4. A nightmare.
5. Horror.
6. Relief.
7. Few answers.
8. freight train.
9. Parking lot.
10. …clothes on their backs.
11. Pray.*Good luck.
Watch this on video: https://youtu.be/lC79wt9oHGg
Next time: “Mind your own business.”
“My pleasure.”
Readers: "Something Went Horribly Wrong" features samples of bad writing we see nearly every day. You can participate! Be our duly deputized “grammar police.” Your motto: “To protect and correct.” Send in your photos of store signs, street signs, menus, TV news graphics, newspaper headlines, tweets, and so on. It doesn’t have to be a grammatical error. It can be just what we call “cowardly writing.” Include your name and home town so we properly can credit you. You're free to add a comment, although we reserve the right to edit or omit. Now get out there! Send to Eliot@eliotkleinberg.com
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NOTE: Eliot and Lou Ann are available for speaking engagements, and can travel. Reach us through the comments section. Just think of all of your employees getting back to work on a Monday, their heads filled with all the ways we’ve shown them to be better communicators!