Spelling Sheridan

I was an English major in college. And there is this Gilbert-Grape’s-Mom massive misconception that English majors are accurate spellers by nature. It’s just not true. Some are, yes. Some English majors have the natural ability of spelling everything correctly. Others, like me, often have a difficult time spelling words like “chance.”

Chance? Chanse?

Seems stupid, I know. But it’s a fact. I can’t spell.

Fortunately, spell check curbs my embarrassment a bit. It’s a crutch really – I over utilize it. I find myself typing out notes… before handwriting them… spell checking them… and then writing them on the sticky.

I’m especially aware of my spelling shortcoming at the office. Although I do spell check 95% of my outgoing g-mails, I’m ten times more likely to read and re-read all work related e-mails. I’m not joking. I read through my Outlook e-mails at least two or three times prior to hitting the send button.

And usually it pays off.

But on a Wednesday. At 4:00 in the afternoon. Two days before I’m leaving for a long weekend in Whistler. It. Didn’t. Pay. Off.

Spell check isn’t fool proof. And in this case, I’m the fool.

Long story short, our company bought a table at a local CFO Awards event (hosted by a local business publication). A few partners and a few senior managers agreed to go, and me and other coworker were to fill the last two spots.

So Wednesday, the day before the event, my boss asks me to send out a reminder e-mail to all attendees. And amongst the who what when where why details, I mention that the event will be held at the Sheridan.

The SHERIDAN Hotel.

I’m not kidding.

And I don’t realize my mistake until I get an e-mail from one of the partners (who “replied all”), that said, “I thought it was at the Hildon.”

Then the horses were out of the gate and running at full speed. The e-mail responses consisted of:

“Mary Ot”

“Wesdin”

“High It”

… and the list goes on.

And throughout the next day these guys would venture out of their corner offices, wander over to my cube, look at me, and smile.

But don’t worry. I told them they were all addholes.