By Beatrix S
We often have a good laugh, at someone else's expense, when we read something misspelled or come across an unconsciously funny headline in the paper. But it's all too rare, for even the best blooper snooper, to spot a howler of a misprint in the paper. So, for those who really have a passion for funny errors, check out the books that have already collected the funny misprints and other funny errors for you.
It Must Be True: Classic Newspaper Howlers, Bloomers and Misprints by the famed author and multi-talented Denys Parsons is a classic compilation of errors and typos made by newspapers. Some of the headlines have whole new meanings compared to what was intended; in some cases, they can actually mean the opposite. This can be a really good gift for a birthday or a good book for Christmas or something you can buy for yourself if you just want to have a good laugh. The book was published in 2002; it's a compilation of the best misprints reproduced in Parsons' earlier blooper books.
An Embarrassment of Misprints: Comical and Disastrous Typos of the Centuries by Max Hall is another book I recommend as a gift for a friend or a coworker. It is simply hilarious. The book is a good reminder that when you are writing a blog, an article, or anything that will be published, proofread it thoroughly! The book was published in 1995 and has had a lot of success.
A Steroid Hit the Earth: A Celebration of Misprints, Typos and Other Howlers by Martin Toseland contains misprints, errors, strange headlines, punctuation and grammar mistakes that have appeared in newspapers and magazines. This book has some of the funniest examples of funny misprints that I have read. So if you found the case of the Wicked Bible funny, where the translators forgot to put the "Not" in front of the adultery commandment, you are one of those who will appreciate this book. Published in 2008, the book will entertain you with headlines like "Taxation for wives" instead of "Taxation for wines", and many others.
The Sex Column and Other Misprints by David Langford is a book about the misprints found in the paper SFX, a scientific paper in Great Britain. David Langford, the author of the book, has been working there for the past 20 years and has gathered a good collection of funny misprints, which he published in 2005. The book collects more than 130 misprints, plus contains extra features. The author adds comments in an entertaining, self-deprecating style.
Finally, you might also enjoy Mispronts: A Collection of Silly Misprints by Graham Marks and Christopher Maynard, a book filled with funny mistakes — other people’s mistakes, that is. The book was published in 1988.