Proofreading mistakes have embarrassed writers throughout history, and they continue to do so today. To avoid proofreading mistakes that can lead to these cringeworthy moments, it’s always best to use a professional service. While these errors can be amusing for the rest of us, they are far less enjoyable for those responsible! Hiring a professional proofreader is an investment, and we break down the proofreading cost per 1000 words to help you budget effectively.
Proofreading Fails that made the New!
Lawful Sinning In one of the most infamous printing blunders, the 1632 edition of the King James Bible reassured cheating partners that they had holy approval for their misdeeds. A missing word in the seventh commandment turned “Thou shalt not commit adultery” into “Thou shalt commit adultery.” This mistake led to the Bible being dubbed the “Wicked Bible,” and the church quickly ordered the destruction of all copies to avoid further scandal.
Unintentional Bargain In 2002, a fortunate few were able to snag an Aiwa Hi-Fi system for just £8.43 instead of its true price of £89.00, thanks to a pricing error at Comet. This typo cost the retailer a significant amount of profit, as savvy shoppers took advantage of this unexpected bargain.
Racist Cannibals? A shocking typo appeared in an Australian cookbook published by Penguin Group. One pasta recipe instructed readers to season their dishes with “salt and freshly ground black people” instead of “black pepper.” This embarrassing error not only confused readers but also cost the company $18,500 to reprint the book.
Expensive Airline Error In 2006, Alitalia Airlines accidentally advertised business class tickets from Toronto to Cyprus for only $39 instead of $3,900. Hundreds of savvy travellers jumped at the chance to book luxury flights at a fraction of the cost. In the end, the airline had to honour the bookings, losing a significant amount in revenue.
A College’s Costly Blunder A college application form once famously referred to itself as an “applicant from,” rather than an “application form.” A single letter transformed an official document into an unintentionally humorous error, causing embarrassment to the institution.
A Two-Foot Typo – In 2015, the Ministry of Education in Chile distributed a map showing “Chile” spelled as “Chiie” in enormous letters across the country’s outline. The map was featured on a banner more than two metres wide, displayed prominently in public. This typographical error on a national scale became a source of public amusement, while the government faced embarrassment over the lack of quality control.
Accidental Luxury – When a company in the UK mistakenly advertised a brand new sofa for £1 instead of £1,000, online shoppers swarmed to claim the bargain. Despite the quick correction of the error, the company was flooded with requests, and some customers demanded the sofas at the £1 price. Although the business was not legally required to honour the mistake, the situation caused quite a stir, highlighting how quickly errors can go viral in the digital age.
The “Mortal Sin” Bible – In 1716, another shocking Bible misprint declared that “the righteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God” instead of “the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Known as the “Sinner’s Bible” or “Mortal Sin” Bible, this error turned the verse’s meaning on its head. The scandalous typo led to outrage and immediate action to recall copies, as it implied a direct contradiction to the Bible’s teachings.
HSBC’s Tax Blunder – In 2002, banking giant HSBC faced an embarrassing typo in its marketing materials in the US. They advertised their services under the slogan “Assume Nothing.” However, a printing error changed the slogan to “Assume Nothing Wrong,” which conveyed an entirely different and unfortunate message. HSBC had to spend $10 million on rebranding efforts to correct the mistake and manage the PR fallout.
A common mistake is leaving irrelevant information in your writing. Here’s a guide on how to remove irrelevant wording to improve clarity.
The value of Proofreading
These examples show that typos, grammatical mistakes, and missing words don’t just damage reputations; they can also lead to costly financial consequences.
We all make mistakes, but in today’s fast-paced world, it’s important to avoid proofreading mistakes as even a single typo can be damaging. Whether you’re an author, a student, or a business, errors can hurt your credibility. To ensure your document—be it a book, business proposal, or essay—is polished and error-free, using a professional proofreading service is a smart choice. A second pair of eyes could save you from embarrassment—or worse, financial loss. At Proofers, to demonstrate our commitment to quality, we provide a money-back guarantee if our work does not meet your expectations!
