We’ve all been there: you’re typing a work email and you hit send before you realize that your phone or computer has changed a word or two. Sometimes it’s harmless, but other times it can be downright embarrassing or even damaging.
Autocorrect is my worst enema.
Jimmy Fallon
Here are some of the most hilarious typos and autocorrects that ruined your work emails.
Typos and Autocorrects
One time I was emailing my boss to ask for a raise, and I wrote “I think I deserve a higher salary” but my phone changed it to “I think I deserve a higher celery“. He replied with a picture of a bunch of celery sticks and said “Here you go, enjoy your snack“.
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I was trying to apologize to a client for a mistake we made, and I meant to say “We are very sorry for the inconvenience” but my phone autocorrected it to “We are very sorry for the incontinence“. The client was not amused and thought we were mocking them.
I was emailing a colleague to congratulate her on her promotion, and I wanted to say “You are amazing” but my phone changed it to “You are a mazing“. She replied with “Thanks, I guess? What’s a mazing?” and I had to explain that it was a typo.
I was emailing my team to remind them of an important deadline, and I wrote “Please make sure you finish your tasks by tomorrow” but my phone autocorrected it to “Please make sure you finish your tacos by tomorrow“. My team thought I was joking and sent me pictures of their tacos.
I was emailing a potential partner to propose a collaboration, and I wrote “I think we have a lot of synergy” but my phone changed it to “I think we have a lot of syringes“. The partner was confused and asked me what kind of business we were in.
Pay attention before you hit SEND!
The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. ‘Tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.
Mark Twain
Indeed, these automatic corrections can often catch us off guard and lead to unintended consequences. The advancements in technology have undoubtedly made our lives easier in many ways, but they also come with their fair share of challenges.
In the realm of written communication, the autocorrect feature has become both a blessing and a curse.
On one hand, it can save us from the occasional typo, helping to maintain professionalism and clarity in our messages. On the other hand, it has the potential to introduce errors or alter our intended meaning, causing confusion or even embarrassment.
Imagine a scenario where you’re sending an email to your boss, expressing your appreciation for their guidance.
You diligently type, “Thank you for your patience,” intending to convey your gratitude for their patience. However, unbeknownst to you, the autocorrect feature changes “patience” to “patients,” leaving an entirely different impression on your boss. Oops!
Remain vigilant and double-check your messages for typos and autocorrects!
Such instances can easily happen, especially when we are multi-tasking or typing quickly. It’s crucial to remain vigilant and double-check our messages before hitting that send button, especially in work-related situations.
Taking a few extra moments to proofread can save us from potential misunderstandings and reputational damage.
While technology may have its quirks, it’s important to remember that it is a tool, and we are the ones ultimately responsible for the messages we convey.
By being mindful of autocorrects potential pitfalls and staying attentive to our communication, we can ensure that our intent shines through clearly, without any unintentional and potentially problematic alterations.
Common Email Typos and Mistakes to Avoid
Beyond the hilarious autocorrect fails, there are some more subtle email typos and mistakes that can undermine your professional image. Being mindful of these can make a big difference:
- “Your” vs. “You’re”: A classic mistake that can make a professional message seem sloppy. Remember, “your” shows possession (e.g., “your report”), while “you’re” is a contraction for “you are” (e.g., “you’re doing great work”).
- “Their,” “There,” and “They’re”: Another grammatical trio that trips people up. “Their” is possessive, “there” refers to a place, and “they’re” is short for “they are.”
- Missing Words: Our brains often move faster than our fingers. It’s easy to accidentally omit a word, like “the” or “a,” which can change the meaning of a sentence entirely.
- Mismatched Names: This is a particularly embarrassing one. We’ve all done it—using the wrong name in a greeting, especially when replying to a long email chain. It’s a quick way to show you weren’t paying close attention.
- Homophones: Words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings, like “to,” “too,” and “two,” or “effect” and “affect,” are a common source of typos.
How to Fix Email Typos
So, what’s the game plan for conquering these communication gremlins?
- Read Your Email Out Loud: It might feel silly, but reading your email aloud forces you to slow down and process each word. This is one of the most effective ways to catch missing words, awkward phrasing, and simple typos.
- Use Spell Check, but Don’t Rely on It: Spell check is a great first line of defense, but as we’ve seen from the hilarious examples, it’s not foolproof. It can’t tell the difference between “celery” and “salary” because both are spelled correctly.
- Proofread from the Bottom Up: To break the flow of reading for content, try reading your email from the last sentence to the first. This helps you focus on the individual words and catch errors you might otherwise miss.
- Wait a Minute (or an Hour): If you’ve drafted a particularly important or sensitive email, step away from it for a few minutes before sending. A fresh pair of eyes (even your own) can make all the difference.
Examples of Funny Work Email Typos
To round out our journey through the land of email fails, here are a few more gems I’ve come across:
- A colleague meant to type “I’ll be there shortly,” but their phone autocorrected it to “I’ll be there shirt-less.” A very confusing and unprofessional (though hilarious) message for a team meeting.
- An email from an event planner about a corporate party read, “We’ll have a great band and lots of fun ‘sacks’.” The planner intended to write “snacks.“
- A manager sent an email to the team announcing a new “praise” program, but a typo changed it to a new “prairie” program. The team was left wondering if they’d be getting a petting zoo in the office.
So, next time you find yourself typing away, keep an eye out for those tricky autocorrect moments. Your professional reputation will thank you!
Do you have any of your own funny stories to share? Drop them in the comments below! And remember, happy emailing!
Helpful Tools!
While we can’t always prevent the funny human errors that come with fast-paced work, there are definitely some fantastic tools out there that act as a safety net.
Think of them as your personal proofreading assistant, catching those “celery” and “incontinence” mishaps before they ever leave your outbox.
Here are a few of the most popular tools that can help fix those email typos and autocorrect blunders:
- Grammarly: This is arguably the most well-known. It’s an AI-powered writing assistant that works across countless platforms, including Gmail, Outlook, and other web-based email clients. It goes beyond simple spelling and grammar checks, offering suggestions for clarity, conciseness, and even tone. It can flag those common “your” vs. “you’re” mistakes and help ensure your message sounds professional and on-brand.
- QuillBot: While known for its paraphrasing capabilities, QuillBot also has a robust grammar and spell checker. It can quickly scan your text and identify errors, often providing a “Fix All Errors” button for a quick cleanup. It’s a great option for a fast, no-frills check.
- ProWritingAid: This is a more comprehensive tool, often favored by writers and editors, but it’s just as effective for business communication. It offers in-depth reports on your writing, checking for things like overused words, sentence length variation, and passive voice. This can help you not only catch typos but also improve the overall quality and readability of your emails.
- LanguageTool: A solid, free option that supports a wide range of languages and dialects. Like the others, it integrates with various browsers and email clients to provide real-time suggestions for grammar, spelling, and style, helping you avoid those international and regional blunders.
Integrate one of these tools into your workflow. Most offer free browser extensions that you can set up in minutes.
They won’t replace a final, careful read-through, but they’ll certainly catch the majority of those little slips that can turn a professional message into a punchline.
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