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Don’t let careless errors slip by. Be smart: Thimk!

Thimk!



No matter how often freshman composition students are warned not to submit writing tasks without proofreading them, they still do. Often, I’ve assigned poor grades to what otherwise would have been excellent compositions, if the authors had proofread their work and corrected careless grammatical and syntactical mistakes. Invariably, they look at their graded work, shake their heads disgustedly and say, “I can’t believe I overlooked those stupid errors.”
To illustrate how writing can communicate messages that are sometimes far different from what was intended if not proofread, I handed out a collection of hastily scribbled items that appeared in church bulletins: “Ladies, Saturday’s rummage sale is a great opportunity to get rid of things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.” “Wednesday night’s fasting and prayer conference includes meals.” “Pray for those who are sick of our community; smile at those hard to love; say ‘Hell’ to someone who doesn’t like you.” “Last Sunday night, Mrs. Hortense Higginbottom sang, ‘I Will Not Pass This Way Again,’ giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.”

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“For those who have children and don’t know it, there is a nursery downstairs.” “Next Sunday, the morning sermon’s title is, ‘Jesus walks on the water’; the evening sermon’s title is, ‘Searching for Jesus.’” “Last Sunday, Matthew Brander and Edna Blake were married in an afternoon church service, ending a friendship that began in their grammar school days.” “Tonight’s sermon will address the question, ‘What is hell?’ Come early and listen to our choir practice.” “Please place your donation in the envelope, along with the deceased person you want remembered.” “On December 20, the church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment, and gracious hostility.” “Don’t forget! Potluck supper Sunday night — prayer and medication to follow.” “The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.” “This evening at seven, there will be hymn singing in the park across from the church. Bring blankets and come prepared to sin.” “Ladies’ Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10:30. Attendees are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. is done.” “The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.” “The Low Self-Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 6:30. Please enter through the back door.” “The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ in the church basement Friday at 7 P.M. The congregation is encouraged to attend this tragedy.” “Weight Watchers will meet this week at the Presbyterian Church. Please use the large double door at the side entrance.” To determine if the handout demonstrated the importance of proofreading written material, I appended the following note to it. Less than half of the students noticed the error it contains: Whether it is a sentence, paragraph or complete composition, you must carefully proofread what you have written. Don’t let careless errors slip by. Be smart: Thimk!


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Jimmy Reed -- Bio and Archives

Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.

This story is a selection from Jimmy Reed’s latest book, entitled The Jaybird Tales.

Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).


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