Is your pencil case on the move?

Posted on 31st August 2010

I would not like to think I am as geeky as a trainspotter, but it is true that when proofreaders, editors and people from the publishing industry (or sometimes even non industry based pedants) get together, we often talk about current bugbears.

That's what happened a few weeks ago when I met up with Lucia Clifford (www.connectmagazines.co.uk) and we got talking about the annoyance of people using the wrong version of a word but because it is a correct spelling, they don't think it's wrong. So, here's an example and a hint on how not to make one of those common errors again.

Is your stationery stationary?

This is a common error that no automatic spell checker is going to pick up on, but the discerning pedants of the world will find thoroughly annoying. And fear not, if you have made this error, you're not alone. In fact, I recall standing at the till in a large chain stationery shop (which was also stationary but that's not their USP) and even they'd got it wrong!

So, here's an aid to help you get it right in future:

StationEry = Envelope (or pEns)
StationAry = stAnding

Ps thanks to Lucia for proofreading this, it would be embarrassing if I had errors in my own blog!