Archives: Software

Yes, it's true that many computer geeks don't have the slightest concerns about grammar and spelling. Just don't mention that to the Hall of Shame curator. :)

Spell converstion / Spell utiltiy New!: From the help file to version 8 of Corel WordPerfect. This one's just dripping with irony.
...whenvever one is available... New!: The dialog box displayed in iTunes 7.2 when the iTunes Plus option is activated.
For more advanced control of Zones, including netwoking...: From an earlier version of the ZoneAlarm firewall software; it's since been corrected. Sounds like something that goes on at a Chinese restaurant, doesn't it?
Sydney, Austrailia — found by LuckyWizard: You'd think AOL would be able to proofread things like this just a little more closely, now, wouldn't you?
Installation can take up to 20 minutes or longer — found by Esteban M-E: It may take less than 20 minutes, or it may take longer; that surely narrows it down, doesn't it?
...it's hypertext based search engine: From the packaging for the Concise Oxford Dictionary CD-ROM. Apparently whoever was responsible for the packaging didn't want to actually use the product within. Also, note the curious non-word "donít", which most likely stems from a bad Mac-PC conversion.
1 Objects / 1 Bytes: Y'know how Windows used to display such prompts as "1 file(s) found"? Well, apparently, that annoyed people, and those pesky parentheses were removed in Windows XP. Unfortunately, things are now worse, at least from a grammatical standpoint, than they had been.
1 days left for activation — found by Sosiqui: Like the Windows Explorer screen featured above, more proof that Microsoft has suddenly lost track of simple English grammar.
Avacados — found by yanz38: Misspelled twice in a diet-related menu on America Online. Avacado...is that what you get when you crossbreed an avocado and a cow?
Winpopop: Wow. It's pretty sad when Microsoft can't even spell the name of their own applet.
Contact you system administrator — found by Nyperold: An actual error message from the install program for Microsoft Office.
Warning you are about to change your Internet settings — found by Nyperold: Another Microsoft Windows error message. I think it reeks of bad grammar on several counts...
Bodyybuilder: This screen shot comes from the American Heritage Talking Dictionary CD-ROM. Ironic, no?
Dowload: From the guidebook for the Microsoft Reader e-book viewer.
An chat message / Recieved: From Netscape 6 Preview Release 2. Guess that's why it was a beta. (And yes, it's been corrected in the final release...)