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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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?

OP posts:
Original poster
freckledleopard · 19/12/2013 11:04

I have no idea who the owner was. There were only two people serving/cooking/manning the tills in the entire place. The person to whom I spoke at the till appeared to be slightly more in charge than the person cooking in the kitchen.

As I said, I was up at the till, paying and just mentioned the error in passing. I didn't deliberately go up to highlight the spelling mistake.

OP posts:
everlong · 19/12/2013 11:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

unlucky83 · 19/12/2013 11:13

I think it might have been the OPs intonation/perceived attitude that upset the waitress..
If OP told the waitress 'don't you know there is no 'e' in gravy' with the assumption and attitude that the waitress didn't know it might have riled. (or maybe the waitress was just having a bad day)

Spelling mistakes like that are easily done, especially if you are writing a sign/blackboard etc.
At our playgroup, a retired primary school teacher put up a note saying 'Potatos for sale'. It was pointed out to her with good humour. No-one thought she didn't know how to spell potatoes!
I used to decorate birthday cakes (or even just pipe in chocolate on a pudding plate) and more than once have had to correct 'birtday' or 'birhday' even once a 'hppy'. Of course I can spell those words but if you are concentrating on what it looks like, fitting nicely into a space etc it is actually easily done - although to my knowledge I have never sent out anything like that spelt incorrectly.
I was a chef but also was a self taught typist. A couple of places where I have worked, if the secretary was off I've typed the menus. On a typewriter (then photocopied) in days before computers, in a rush because it wasn't really my job. I did make the odd mistake, chikcen was a common one. (A bit like now I tend to type thnaks if I'm not concentrating).
I will confess when DP had a restaurant I used to type his menus and once I did chikcen and realised after printing off 30 copies (had been fed through the printer twice, once to do the coloured header and once for the black text) . It was a lunch menu, on for a maximum of a week and lunches were quiet - I left it Blush
One for the pedants (used to cause debate somewhere I worked, so used both depending on how I felt) ...should it be 'calf's liver' or 'calves' liver' ?

LRDtheFeministDragon · 19/12/2013 11:16

I doubt it, everlong. The waitress (who was rude, no question) isn't about to tell anyone, especially not her manager.

everlong · 19/12/2013 11:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LRDtheFeministDragon · 19/12/2013 11:21

Oh, possibly.

Poor her. Shouldn't have been rude, but still, poor her.

thebody · 19/12/2013 11:34

Jesus is this still going!

diddl · 19/12/2013 11:46

No, thebody-you must be imagining thingsHmm

msmoss · 19/12/2013 12:23

struggling I totally agree that on here the post pedants are really irritating. I view this and other forums as a conversation and write it in that style I also type quickly and whilst I reread my posts I don't do it with spelling/ grammar checking in mind so I don't always notice the mistakes in the same way that I would if I was writing for work.

When I talk no one knows if I'm spelling it there, their or they're or using its or it's so I don't think it matters that much when talking via my keyboard on a social forum.

chateauferret · 19/12/2013 16:58

YANBU but maybe a bit pompous.

I'm sure the business about dyslexic people holds as much water as a sieve. Bad spelling is more likely to come from non-dyslexic people who don't give a toss about the impression their writing conveys. I knew a dyslexic woman who got a distinction in an exam that required candidates to write a fugue. Hijacking a recognised disability as an excuse for simple incompetence is hardly professional behaviour.

She was just trying to make you feel guilty.

hmc · 19/12/2013 17:09

I thought a fugue was a musical composition? Confused

hmc · 19/12/2013 17:11

"Bad spelling is more likely to come from non-dyslexic people who don't give a toss about the impression their writing conveys" and that statement is unsubstantiated bullshit btw

HesterShaw · 19/12/2013 17:14

hmc yes. So did I. A toccata and fugue, like Bach!

GhettoPrincess001 · 19/12/2013 17:20

Fourteen pages and the 'gravey' thread is still going. Well done all.

fivegolddeblooms · 19/12/2013 17:27

TheBakeryQueen Thu 19-Dec-13 10:40:06
Well done! You can spell gravy correctly. Next step, work on your social skills.

Grin Grin

AlaskaNebraska · 19/12/2013 17:28

i am sorry to report that where i work adults occasionally have to read something out,. many an illiterate maintains they are dyslexic.

not wanting to malign dyslexics at all. but its not on

AlaskaNebraska · 19/12/2013 17:29

i thought a fugue was music too

MaidOfStars · 19/12/2013 17:30

Stupid question: do people with dyslexia have problems reading music?

AlaskaNebraska · 19/12/2013 17:30

lol at maid

AlaskaNebraska · 19/12/2013 17:31

maybe they are all dressed like this here

aciddrops · 19/12/2013 18:12

i am sorry to report that where i work adults occasionally have to read something out,. many an illiterate maintains they are dyslexic.

not wanting to malign dyslexics at all. but its not on

And the point you are making is what?

MrsShortfuse · 19/12/2013 18:21

Ha ha ha. I don't know what being a lawyer has to do with it. Judging by my experience of lawyers over the years, they make too many mistakes themselves to get shirty with others!

MrsShortfuse · 19/12/2013 18:24

However, I'd rather have a lawyer that makes spelling mistakes than one who sends six figure sums to the wrong account....twice.

MrsShortfuse · 19/12/2013 18:26

....but denies it, then charges me for the privilege.

Blu · 19/12/2013 18:30

Could someone tell me when it is correct to use 'spelt' and when 'spelled', please?

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