Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Little Miss Can Be Wrong

I should be ashamed of myself. I am currently experiencing schadenfreude. Yes, I am totally delighting in others’ misfortune. To make matters worse, I am delighting in the misfortune of my students. And to make matters even worse, I am delighting in their grammatical misfortunes.

I don’t typically delight in my students’ grammatical errors. That would be like Jillian Michaels delighting in weight gain or Tim Gunn delighting in awkward dress proportions.

But this error is awesome. In my six years of teaching this stuff, it’s the first time I have seen it. Not only that, it has already appeared in three different students’ essays. My friends, I may have discovered the newest in grammar error trends.

Are you ready? Here you go:

This conflict was due to a miss understanding.

The arguments made in the article were miss leading.


It was based on a miss interpretation of the material.

The reason I love this error so much is it reminds me of the Little Miss book series I loved as a child:




My students’ errors inspired me to think about creating a more adult Little Miss series.

For example, Little Miss Interpretation would be that one friend that always over analyzes everything. Little Miss Judgment would be the critical, bitchy one. Little Miss Taken would be the serial monogamist.

Who would you add to the adult Little Miss series?

21 comments:

the late phoenix said...

little miss Vibrator?

nelson is just a bad boy who craves love. lisa simpson will provide that love

Holly Vance said...

I think students' tendency to begin splitting what should be one word reflects the divorce epidemic. Or is it the divorce revelation?

Theresa Milstein said...

Reminds me of Miss America. And I thought nobody watched that show anymore.

Miss appropriation of the word miss.

Tere Kirkland said...

Hopefully it's just a temporary miss understanding. I'm sure you'll rectify their miss take. ;)

WritingNut said...

I used to love the Little Miss book series too! :)

Shannon said...

If I'm not miss taken, this is one of the greatest grammatical errors since I met somebody who took something for granite.

Jeff Beesler said...

Jilian Michaels could double as Little Miss Shape. :-D. and I'd just gotten done watching an episode of the Simpsons, too!

Gorilla Bananas said...

Miss Conception would have missed the lesson on birth control.

Rachael said...

This is amazing. I'd like one on Miss Understood, the most clear, well-spoken friend ever.

notesfromnadir said...

This is funny! How about Little Miss Spoken?

Dylan Fitzgerald said...

May I first express MASSIVELY deserved appreciation for the Spin Doctors reference? Long live "Pocket Full of Kryptonite"!

Miss Match would be an awkward twenty-something with very little luck on dating websites... wait... that sounds familiar...

Jennifer Fabulous said...

I love your blog. The concept is awesome! I hate to admit it, but as a journalist, even I make the random grammatical error. (But I guess that's what editors are for, haha).

I don't blame you for getting a kick out of seeing bad grammar once in a while, especially when it's hilarious. These are great examples.

I vaguely remember the Little Miss series because I think my mom used to collect the mugs. Haha.

Anonymous said...

I think I found a new place to hang out and sure hope I have not missed anything

Anonymous said...

I once knew a Miss Information. She just can't seem to stop talking.

Meagan Spooner said...

I'm personally fond of Miss Pelling. For so many reasons. Not the least of which that even when in single word format, it's usually "misspelled."

I admit I giggled out loud at this post. So fun.

Carolyn Abiad said...

Very cute! How about Miss Apprehension? I think Reese Whitherspoon could help you with the legalease. :)

Duncan D. Horne - the Kuantan blogger said...

I sometimes have a good laugh at my students grammar mistakes too!

I'd add Little Miss Bloggerholic!

Duncan In Kuantan

Glynis Peters said...

Wonderful! Brilliant idea for a series too!

Unknown said...

Miss Demeanor. She has the etiquette of a posh Brit.

And Miss Chief. Because women rule.

Gary Baker said...

Miss Anne Thropist - she hates me.
Miss Guided - the only woman who never asks for directions.
And my old girlfrind - Miss Behaving - so frustrating.

Lorena said...

Little Miss Trust.

The treasurer of her 4th grade, she's in charge of saving all the lunch-money donations for the end-of-the-year pizza party trust fund.