A few days ago, we saw how sometimes the most obscure fact errors make for the biggest outcry in the corrections column. Conversely, rather significant lapses can kind of quietly fall through the cracks.
On Oct. 30, 2008, The New York Times ran this rather amazing correction:
On Oct. 30, 2008, The New York Times ran this rather amazing correction:
Corrections: For The Record
An article in some editions on Wednesday about Fordham University's plan to give an ethics prize to Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer misspelled the surname of another Supreme Court justice who received the award in 2001. She is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, not Ginsberg. The Times has misspelled her name at least two dozen times since 1980; this is the first correction the paper has published.
An article in some editions on Wednesday about Fordham University's plan to give an ethics prize to Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer misspelled the surname of another Supreme Court justice who received the award in 2001. She is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, not Ginsberg. The Times has misspelled her name at least two dozen times since 1980; this is the first correction the paper has published.
Generally, a misspelled name isn’t considered a huge error, per se. It doesn’t alter the reader’s understanding of the fact. It’s more embarrassing than anything else, sloppy. Anybody could misspell Ginsburg, and apparently everybody has. But more than two dozen times? It’s the sheer volume that stands out. And even more astounding was the fact that it had never been addressed.
I found it extremely interesting that The Times would acknowledge this lapse seemingly unsolicited, but I think it’s a testament to how seriously the paper takes mistakes. Accuracy is the lifeblood of the newspaper, the foundation of its credibility. And the copy editing staff is loaded with astute, critical thinkers, who make unbelievable saves on the most sneaky of fact errors under extreme duress.
But those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it. And on June 28, 2010 — nearly two years after the big Ginsburg mea culpa —there was this embarrassing gaffe in the obituary of her husband, Martin D. Ginsburg:
I found it extremely interesting that The Times would acknowledge this lapse seemingly unsolicited, but I think it’s a testament to how seriously the paper takes mistakes. Accuracy is the lifeblood of the newspaper, the foundation of its credibility. And the copy editing staff is loaded with astute, critical thinkers, who make unbelievable saves on the most sneaky of fact errors under extreme duress.
But those who don’t know their history are doomed to repeat it. And on June 28, 2010 — nearly two years after the big Ginsburg mea culpa —there was this embarrassing gaffe in the obituary of her husband, Martin D. Ginsburg:
When Justice Ginsberg was being vetted by the Clinton White House as a prospective Supreme Court nominee, Mr. Ginsburg compiled years of financial records over a weekend. Then, in the couple's home at the Watergate apartments in Washington, he walked government accountants through years of filings as his wife was being interviewed in another room on legal and personal issues by the president's counsel, Bernard W. Nussbaum.
The couple's finances had been simplified in 1980 when Mr. Ginsburg sold all his stock so that Justice Ginsberg would not have to remove herself from cases involving companies or industries in which the family had interests.
The couple's finances had been simplified in 1980 when Mr. Ginsburg sold all his stock so that Justice Ginsberg would not have to remove herself from cases involving companies or industries in which the family had interests.
Now, obviously, many women do not take their husband's last name ... but rarely do you see a woman take an alternate version of it.
Somehow, we spelled the husband’s name and wife’s name differently. In the same sentence. Twice. In consecutive paragraphs. Simply amazing. I don’t know who copy edited the obit, but I feel terrible for them. It
would have been just awful coming into work the next day and learning about this. I’ve been there. And the funny thing is, when you make a mistake — THAT’S the page of the newspaper you’ll see for the next few days. In bird cages, puppy kennels, wrapped around every piece of fish … two weeks later, your kid will come home from school with a paper-mache mask and the page of the newspaper with your mistake on it will be plainly visible.
Somehow, we spelled the husband’s name and wife’s name differently. In the same sentence. Twice. In consecutive paragraphs. Simply amazing. I don’t know who copy edited the obit, but I feel terrible for them. It
would have been just awful coming into work the next day and learning about this. I’ve been there. And the funny thing is, when you make a mistake — THAT’S the page of the newspaper you’ll see for the next few days. In bird cages, puppy kennels, wrapped around every piece of fish … two weeks later, your kid will come home from school with a paper-mache mask and the page of the newspaper with your mistake on it will be plainly visible.
I mentioned the Ginsburg thing to a colleague at the magazine, who told me to forget the Ginsburg thing and look into the Ginsberg thing. Writers and copy editors have not only had a hard time with Allen Ginsberg’s name but also with a slew of corrections oddly associated with the beat poet.
April 9, 1997 A picture caption on Sunday with the obituary of Allen Ginsberg included erroneous identities from the Magnum photo agency for the two men shown standing. The one at the far left was Barney Rosset, the founder of Grove Press, not the poet William S. Burroughs. The man standing at the right was Julius Orlovsky, not his brother, the poet Peter Orlovsky.
April 17, 1997
An article on Sunday about a memorial service for the poet Allen Ginsberg omitted context for a comment by a friend, Nancy Tucker. When Ms. Tucker said to the poet Gregory Corso, ''Such a lover,'' she was referring to what she regarded as Ginsberg's ''kind and generous nature.'' She was not suggesting that she and Mr. Ginsberg had been lovers.
August 9, 1997
An obituary and a picture caption about the Beat writer William S. Burroughs on Monday, and in some late editions on Sunday, referred incompletely to the origin of his title for the novel ''Naked Lunch.'' Although it was Allen Ginsberg who misread part of a manuscript by Burroughs as ''naked lunch'' — rather than ''naked lust'' — it was Jack Kerouac who said the phrase would make a good title.
May 15, 1998
A brief report in the Footlights column of the Arts section yesterday misstated the date of a tribute to the poet Allen Ginsberg at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. It was yesterday; it is not today.
June 4, 2000
An article on May 21 about the singers Lou Reed and Patti Smith as custodians of the Beat aesthetic misstated the order of deaths of the writers Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs. Ginsberg died in April 1997; Burroughs died four months later.
To the right, is a Daily Double: Ginsberg and his associate were misspelled: | February 9, 1996 An article yesterday about plans by The Village Voice to begin free distribution in Manhattan misspelled the surname of a longtime contributor. He is Jules Feiffer, not Pfeiffer. It also misspelled the given name of the poet who was among the paper's early contributors. He is Allen Ginsberg, not Allan. |
Then there's this one with both of his names misspelled (Yahtzee!): | March 22, 1998 The Choice Tables column on March 8, about Asian restaurants in Washington, misspelled both names of the writer mentioned in a diner's overheard conversation at Asia Nora. He is the beat poet Allen Ginsberg. |
Finally, many people think The New York Times is an elitist newspaper, but it's just not true. You don't have to be a Supreme Court justice or a famous poet to have your name misspelled. It can happen to regular, old Ginsburg-bergs like you and me:
January 15, 1992
An article on Tuesday about an Afghan singer's concert in Queens misidentified the organizer. He is Mark Ginsburg of Voice Pictures.
October 19, 1999
An article in the Sunday Styles section this week about the popularity of hand-tailored suits for men misspelled the name of a clothing store and the surname of its current owner. It is Moe Ginsburg, not Ginzburg; the owner is Paul Ginsburg.
February 13, 2001
An obituary last Tuesday about a translator of works by Dostoyevsky, Mikhail Bulgakov and Isaac Ba shevis Singer misspelled her surname. She was Mirra Ginsburg, not Ginsberg.
August 21, 2002
A front-page article on Saturday about the construction of elaborate embassies in Washington by countries eager to attract attention misspelled the surname of a journalist who commented on diplomatic social events. She is Ina Ginsburg, not Ginsberg.
January 22, 2006
An article last Sunday about a man who wears sandwich-board advertisements on a street corner in Lower Manhattan misspelled his surname. He is Gerald Ginsberg, not Ginsburg.
RSS Feed