to have pointed out a spelling mistake in a menu?

[freckledleopard]

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?

[HesterShaw]

I wasn't moaning.

I was just giving my opinion. I'm a small business owner myself, and I check all the info being presented, in case of mistakes, but sometimes they do happen. I had an email once saying there was a typo on my website. Obviously I wanted to email back saying "fuck off you pedantic fucker" but I didn't. I just thanked him for pointing it out and said that I would amend it forthwith.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

The customer is not always right. In fact the customer is very often more wrong than you could imagine possible. Do not ever think that being a customer gives you any kind of superiority.

[freckledleopard]

As this thread demonstrates, I'm not the only one who can't abide poor spelling. Therefore, if the cafe amends its menu on the blackboard and doesn't piss off another customer, then surely it's in its benefit to do so and not potentially lose further customers and revenue?

It's nothing to do with superiority. It's to do with the fact that certain words are spelled in a certain way.

[haveyourselfashandy]

The cafe will not lose customers due to a spelling mistake on the menu board.People aren't that sad surely?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Oh don't make out you were doing them a favour fgs. This says more about you than it does about them, you coukdvt help it clearly.

By all means be quietly annoyed at the mistakes. But don't try and make yourself look clever by pointing them out and then make out you give a crap about them loosing revenue.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Couldn't.

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

You were a bit of a patronising prig, OP, I would have cringed at your comment if I'd heard it. No matter how lofty you think your job is, it wasn't your place to pick up somebody's spelling and they've called you on it, good for them.

Yes, spelling is important and errors annoying but there's are places where it's vital other places where it jars a little and others where it should be a matter of no importance at all. Know the difference.

[TheMuppetsSingChristmas]

And I stand by my assertion - on the basis of this thread, you appear totally unable to read social situations correctly or with any empathy. You come across as a rigid thinker, unable to consider others, and as someone who is rude and patronising.

[nauticant]

Shakes head sadly at slack proofreading by Gileswithachainsaw

[LyingWitchInTheWardrobe2726]

Ohh. You've typed another few posts in the meantime. You sound worse. Loss of revenue, customers? Wow. Did your parents not teach this out of you as a child? It's the sort of 'look at me', precocious stuff that some kids do - and then hopefully grow out of.

[HesterShaw]

Someone scoffed upthread about the use of the word "professional" and said it's only a cafe. Shouldn't all businesses want to look as good as they can, whether or not they are "only" a cafe? Words are spelled a certain way. If one of the staff members is genuinely dyslexic, or even if s/he isn't great at spelling, then shouldn't someone else be doing the boards?

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Yes, of course it'd be lovely if the cafe spelt everything correctly.

Yes, waitresses should always be polite and charming.

We all know that.

But when you're the customer, you should still try to be reasonably polite, and it sounds as if you upset someone.

We've probably all done that by accident, too. But maybe it's an indication it's time to save the pedantry for more appropriate contexts?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

What can I say, I'm on my phone and have fat thumbs :o

[HesterShaw]

In a social situation it's of course different. My mother for example delights in correcting people's punctuation on FB. She seems to think it is her duty . Quite what she would have made of "Preggerz and peng" I shudder to think.

[eurochick]

I'm a lawyer and pedantic about spelling in work that is prepared by my team. I really wouldn't have pointed out this error. Menu errors are common. As long as someone is able to comprehend what the dish is, I really don't think it's an issue.

[HesterShaw]

(though I really really really want some spuds and gravy now)

[thebody]

Yes op you are a very clever girl. And well done to you for being a lawyer.

I expect the staff had a bloody good laugh about you, I know I would have.

Lost revenue over a spelling mistake!! Ha ha ha

[curlew]

You know, I spend a lot of time teaching my children that if somebody makes a small mistake that makes no difference to whatever's going on, the polite and gracious thing to do is ignore it.

[ExcuseTypos]

Do you honestly think that the 'server' as you called her, on a busy evening before Christmas is really worried about a spelling mistake? I expect she has other things on her mind.

LRD has summed it up for me "you were a bit of a patronising prig, OP"

Dd1 is dyslexic and has just started a graduate training scheme.

Her employers are extremely tolerant of her spelling issues and have actively encouraged her to do things she would have had a near panic attack at the thought of, 2 months ago. Her confidence is soaring. glad she doesn't work for you OP

[ExcuseTypos]

Anyone else dyslexic on this thread who, like me, wouldn't have noticed the spelling mistake?

It can be quite liberating sometimes. At least I don't have to spend my time frothing over an extra e .

[Beeyump]

And the waitress didn't really 'have a go at you' did she, op? I think the fact that you are still feeling a bit pissed off about it is weird, tbh. yabu

[IThinkThat]

C'mon , for goodness sake, please can someone find a spelling mistake or grammatical error in the OPs post, PLEASE!

lol, I'm crap at spelling so I can't help

[lookatmybutt]

If it were me, I really wouldn't give a toss about the sign but I think the waitress was an overly touchy, precious idiot. It also smacks of laziness. Why didn't the waitress give the sign a quick once-over to save her poor dyslexic colleague such heinous embarrassment?

So what, someone made a mistake and someone pointed it out. I like to think most reasonable people would go 'Ooops!', laugh and correct it. I always spell calendar wrong, but I don't go home and slash my wrists over it.

My dad's super dooper dyslexic and doesn't make a fuss - he just gets me to rewrite his letters prior to sending. Also, I'm a little sceptical that this fabled dyslexic person managed to spell sausages but not gravy - maybe it's just my dad, but he'd probably spell it sossajes and gravey if he was in a hurry.

My sister saw a rather amusing sign outside a juice bar in Japan. Instead of 'mango', they'd written 'manko'.

???? mango
???? manko

The first means mango, unsurprisingly. The second means 'pussy', or even 'cunt' in some areas.

She just laughed and left it.

Now, that's a spelling error to be proud of!

[freckledleopard]

Ok. Consensus is I'm a patronising lawyer and life's too short.

I accept I'm not a people-person and my desire to be right probably pisses people off.

I still maintain that anyone running a business should try and take on-board feedback rather than being rude. But that's obviously just my opinion.

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

excuse - not my quotation, but I agree with it.

And yes, very liberating.