If correct grammar is so important, then why are some of the largest companies in the world choosing to have slogans with mistakes? Is it because it’s catchy? Or do they have to send their very expensive advertising agents to grammar school? 😅
There are certain situations where a message is more powerful when it’s “imperfect.” Do you agree?
The thing is, when you make a “mistake,” you make a cliche more interesting and catchy. I remember when I was back in college, the professor in one of my classes was reading my paper to the rest of the class, raving about how he loved my creativity. He turned to me and said: “By choosing to say ‘the hustle and rustle of the city’ instead of ‘the hustle and bustle of the city’ (a common idiom), you made a cliche interesting and noticeable.” He thought that I had chosen to change the phrase in order to show, in a sophisticated way, that the city wasn’t as noisy as it seemed. I smiled and thanked him. The truth though was that I didn’t “choose” to be clever; I had made a mistake. What I did choose though was not to share this with him and the rest of the class. Heck, I decided to let them think I was original ?.
So stop being afraid that the grammar or literary police is gonna pull you over and give you a ticket 😅. Just convey your message in the best way you can. This is the most important thing. Who knows, you might become a trend setter.
So many times we choose to stay quiet, picking comfort over speaking because we think that people are going to judge us. But no one else judges us harsher than our own selves.
How would you correct the slogans below? 😉
Would you correct these mistakes if you had to?
Got milk? – a milk campaign
Think Different – Apple
Make Summer Funner – Target
Spread the Happy – Nutella
To Each Their Own – Honda
Rethink Possible – AT&T
Less Sugar, Less Bottles – SodaStream
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What is your experience with mistakes in English? Tell me in the comments.
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