Below is a portion of an article posted on a national news website:
“The code theft from the security giant will not likely affect the average computer user or compromise his computer, an analyst told — but the breech is certainly to leave the Fortune 500 company red faced.
Ghosh called the security breech a real business risk more than anything else, one that may lead to a loss of confidence in Symantec and potential loss of market share for the publicly traded firm.
The compromised code — between four and five years old — does not affect does not affect Symantec’s consumer-oriented Norton products as had been previously speculated, Symantec said.“
Did you notice the errors? No? Here, let me help.
Breech: (as defined by Merriam Webster)
1: plural a) Short pants covering the hips and thighs and fitting snugly at the lower edges at or just below the knee b) Pants
2: a) At the hind end of the body : buttocks b) Breech presentation; also : a fetus that is presented breech first
3: the part of a firearm at the rear of the barrel
Breach:
1: Infraction or violation of a law, obligation, tie, or standard
2: a) a broken, ruptured, or torn condition or area b) a gap (as in a wall) made by battering
3: a) a break in accustomed friendly relations b) a temporary gap in continuity : hiatus
4: a leap especially of a whale out of water
(Did you notice the repeated phrase in the last paragraph?)
I’ve lost faith in spelling and grammar. Is proofreading dead? Are people in such a hurry to get news out that proper writing abilities are overlooked for the person with the quickest fingers? If that much is true, then we have no hope for this kind of journalism. If speed is always the most desired quality, then the integrity of the writer and the company or entity he or she writes for is compromised. Since technically breech is spelled correctly, the egregious misuse of the word goes undetected by the auto check that comes with nearly every word processing program available. Maybe people aren’t taught to reread their papers anymore, or to keep a dictionary and a thesaurus around when writing a paper. (I realize I’m probably making myself sound much older than my 26 years, but seriously.) When people use words like irregardless and make mistakes with to, too and two; there, they’re and their; you’re and your; then and than; accept and except, effect and affect, which and witch (I’m not joking, I’ve seen that) lay and lie (the list goes on and on) and as I witnessed today, breech and breach…my nerd heart breaks a little. Is the ability to use correct grammar and spelling a lost art?
