Style Invitational Week 1466: The fix is in!
Write a funny newspaper-style correction. Plus winning job switches from Week 1462.
Cartoon by Bob Staake
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This week’s contest:
Wednesday’s Miss Manners column incorrectly stated that if a crouton falls down the dress of the lady seated next to you, etiquette dictates removing it with the sugar tongs. While that remains the case in Europe, Americans follow the precedent set by Woodrow Wilson at a 1916 state dinner, in which the fingers were used. (Mike Fransella, from Week 609 in 2004)
Due to a transcription error, the Indian prime minister’s wife at Tuesday’s White House dinner was incorrectly described as wearing “a sorry ensemble.” (Elden Carnahan)
Due to a typographical error, an obituary stated that Joseph McDonald was survived by his wife of 270 years. They were actually married for 27 years. It only seemed like 270. (Tom Witte)
Dear Loser*, Aspiring Loser, or General Hanger-On:
Here’s a contest we hadn’t done since 2004 — the Empress’s very first year of empressing: It’s to write a funny correction for a newspaper or magazine, as in the examples from that first contest. Deadline for Week 1466 is Monday night, Dec. 20. And if you’re better than everyone else except one other person, you’d win this cat-butt tissue dispenser.
And we have the winners of our Week 1462 job switch contest: What would happen if two particular people switched roles? Like A hit man as Emily Post: “Always leave your calling card.” Emily Post as a hit man: “The shrimp fork should be placed between the jugular vein and the carotid artery.”
This week’s winner — Edgar Allan Poe writing “The Cat in the Hat” and Dr. Seuss penning “The Tell-Tale Heart” — is an instant Invite classic. It’s going to end up in those collections of The Greatest Style Invitational Entries Ever.
In my online supplementary column, The Style Conversational, I talk about the new contest and results, and — for inspiration, guidance and plain ol’ entertainment — share the results of Week 609, our first corrections contest.
LINKS TO …
This week's Invitational column, Week 1466, and results of Week 1462
No-paywall entry form for Week 1466
This week’s Style Conversational column
Still running -- deadline Monday night, Dec. 13: It’s our annual contest for building a timeline of next year’s news events — funny ones, of course. See Week 1465 here; see the no-paywall entry form here.
More ways to enjoy The Style Invitational and be part of the Loser Community:
Join the Style Invitational Devotees group on Facebook and the Devs will anagram your name every which way.
Also on Facebook, the Style Invitational Ink of the Day page presents one classic entry as a colorful graphic that's easy to share. "Like" the page to get it regularly on your news feed, or to scroll through the archives. bit.ly/inkofday.
And we're now on Season 2 of the You're Invited podcast, half-hour episodes with host Mike Gips and various Invite luminaries. Catch all 18 episodes at bit.ly/invite-podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
— Pat Myers, Empress of The Style Invitational, pat.myers@washpost.com (or just reply to this email)
*That's Loser with a capital L; named for the runner-up prizes emblazoned "LOSER," the community of regular Style Invitational entrants now proudly calls itself the Losers. If you enter the Invite, you're a Genuine Loser. But not (necessarily) a loser.