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AIBU?

to have pointed out a spelling mistake in a menu?

384 replies

freckledleopard · 18/12/2013 10:16

First off, I really don't think I was being unreasonable, but would like others' opinions please.

I went for drinks last night in a cafe I'd not been to before. The various food options were written on a blackboard above the tills. One of the options described sausages and "gravey". I didn't say anything initially - ordered my drink, thanked the server and went to my seat. Later in the evening, when ordering again, whilst waiting for my wine, I spoke to the same assistant and said, with a bit of a smile, "Sorry, I just wanted to point out that "gravy" is not spelled with an "e" in it". I smiled again to reiterate I was being friendly and added, "I just notice these things!" (which is true. I'm a lawyer and a pedant.)

The woman's demeanour immediately changed at this point. She said "well, I didn't write it, but I'll be sure to tell my dyslexic colleague that she spelled it wrong" (she really did emphasise the word dyslexic). Again, I smiled (awkwardly now) and repeated that I had a job that made me notice spelling errors. Again, she repeated that she would be sure to tell her "dyslexic colleague that she couldn't spell 'gravy'".

I paid for my drink and walked away blushing, feeling really pissed off. Frankly, if you're going to have a dyslexic colleague write the menus, surely it would be common sense to double check the spelling? Further, I always point out spelling and grammar mistakes on public signs and leaflets (and have been known to tweet companies whose packaging contains errors) so that the relevant people can correct them.

I'm still pissed off today (and yes, I appreciate it's a first world problem). But AIBU to think the assistant was rude, abrupt and should perhaps have graciously accepted what I said, maybe made a joke of it, rather than having a go at me?

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ilovesooty · 18/12/2013 10:21

I'm a pedant but I can't imagine why you laboured the point having made your point initially and received your response.

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freckledleopard · 18/12/2013 10:23

Probably because I was taken aback by the response and was trying to lighten the mood. In the past, people have been grateful, made a note or acknowledged that other people have highlighted the same error. Most people don't glare and try and make me feel bad.

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BrainLikeASeive · 18/12/2013 10:24

What kind of idiots let the dyslexic write the menu without checking it?

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Msvee · 18/12/2013 10:28

My old colleague was dyslexic and would write on the notice board of the school. I never pointed out her mistakes. But you didn't know but probably came across a bit of an arse.

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ilovesooty · 18/12/2013 10:28

Since the original response wasn't positive I would have thought your own common sense would tell you to leave it there and that aany attempt to lighten the mood was unlikely to be productive. You mentioned an attempt to make you feel bad-perhaps the person you spoke to felt attacked?

I notice errors everywhere as you do. I wouldn't necessarily point them out to individuals or expect people to be grateful.

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LambinsideaDuckinsideaTrout · 18/12/2013 10:28

I'm dyslexic is the default excuse for a lot of people who can't be bothered to check/spell correctly.

Does my head in.

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whogrewoutoftheterribletwos · 18/12/2013 10:29

I wouldn't have laboured the point about your job but after she said 'dyslexic colleague' might have suggested that then maybe they weren't the person who should be writing the sign then - after all, it doesn't present a particularly good image for their business to have such obvious mistakes so visible but then, I can be quite confrontational

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SirChenjin · 18/12/2013 10:29

Agree with you OP - if someone in your team is dyslexic you either a)don't get them to write the publicity, or b)get someone to check the spelling afterwards. If I ran a business and misspelled something I'd sure as heck want someone to point out my error - doesn't exactly look very professional if your marketing stuff/menus/whatever have spelling errors. Trying to lighten the mood and explain why you've pointed out the error is understandable - she sounds like she was getting her knickers well and truly twisted.

(I've misspelled something in that post, haven't I? Grin)

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ilovesooty · 18/12/2013 10:30

"The dyslexic"? Really?

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LambinsideaDuckinsideaTrout · 18/12/2013 10:30

I missed out quotation marks in mine.. Blush

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ilovesooty · 18/12/2013 10:32

I work with someone with dyslexia and her work would be checked first. Pointing it out to the company - yes. Labouring the point with an individual - no.

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freckledleopard · 18/12/2013 10:33

Maybe it's just my background. Any errors in my work result in a bollocking. It just doesn't give a good impression to the customer if something is spelled incorrectly (IMO). I just wasn't sure that the aggressive response was warranted.

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ViviPru · 18/12/2013 10:34

I notice errors everywhere as you do. I wouldn't necessarily point them out to individuals or expect people to be grateful.

Yes, this. Pats on the back for waving my correctional magic over society Grin

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Amrapaali · 18/12/2013 10:34

I agree with Lambinside.

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differentnameforthis · 18/12/2013 10:35

I don't see what being a lawyer has to do with anything, to be honest.

And I see plenty of spelling mistakes in everyday life, but my life is too short to be telling anyone about them.

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magicbiscuits · 18/12/2013 10:35

The menu is marketing. Anyone with spelling difficulties must get their work proofread. You were trying to be helpful OP - it's not your fault that their marketing makes them look ignorant.

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SirChenjin · 18/12/2013 10:35

Again, I smiled (awkwardly now) and repeated that I had a job that made me notice spelling errors

I don't think that is labouring the point - it's just an explanation. Otoh, repeating that you will tell your dyslexic colleague is.

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differentnameforthis · 18/12/2013 10:36

Perhaps the person you spoke to wrote the sign & was embarrassed? Don't see why you had to carry on about it though

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winklewoman · 18/12/2013 10:38

You were perfectly reasonable, she was rude. Sorry, ilovesooty, she should have been grateful to FreckledL for helping the business to project a professional image.

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NigellasDealer · 18/12/2013 10:41

do not see what you being a lawyer has to do with it tbh.

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differentnameforthis · 18/12/2013 10:41

I disagree, op didn't need to mention it twice or point out again that she worked in a job where she "noticed these things"

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HavantGuard · 18/12/2013 10:42

You sound like my SIL. You couldn't even say, "gravy is misspelled." You had to say, "just wanted to point out that "gravy" is not spelled with an "e" in it." That comes across as smug and pompous.

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AnnBryce · 18/12/2013 10:44

I'm a pedant (but not a lawyer)...Life is full of crap like this, I choose not to point it out normally because nobody likes a Smart Arse. What did you expect, A free round of drinks?

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LRDtheFeministDragon · 18/12/2013 10:46

TBH, I would count a handwritten menus, and things like the signs on fruit and veg in the market, as places where I'm not terribly surprised to see errors. Does it matter?

If you were at somewhere mega-poncey ignore me, but if it's just a bog-standard cafe I'd imagine it's fairly normal and you were a little bit rude.

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merryxmasyafilthyanimal · 18/12/2013 10:49

YANBU OP.

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