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This article was published 6 year(s) and 5 month(s) ago

Brotherton: We can’t help mocking — oops, smocking — President Trump

Bill Brotherton

December 11, 2018 by Bill Brotherton

I figured retired copy editors like me were the only Americans rankled by the seemingly endless typographical errors and bad grammar in President Trump’s Twitter posts.

“Covfefe,” of course, is the greatest gaffe of all, an immediate entry into the Presidential Hall of Shame. But every day, it seems, there’s a new Trump Twitter Typo drawing my ire.

In a recent post about the federal government’s investigation into possible Russian ties to his presidential campaign, Trump wrote “Democrats can’t find a Smocking Gun tying the Trump campaign to Russia after James Comey’s testimony. No Smocking Gun…No Collusion.” Smocking? One Twitter wiseacre posted this response: “#SmockingGun sounds like an arts and crafts shop in Texas where kids build their own AR-15s.”

In a Twitter tribute to 41st President George H.W. Bush, Mr. Trump delivered a heartfelt appreciation. “With sound judgement, common sense, and unflappable leadership, President Bush guided our Nation.” But he misspelled “judgment.” I bet Trump works out at Planet Fitness, the Judgement (sic) Free Zone. Which, it seems, is also a hyphen-free zone.

Then there’s this beauty of a boo-boo by The Donald, in a disparaging tweet about Michael Cohen, his former personal attorney: “He makes up stories to get a GREAT & ALREADY reduced deal for himself, and get……his wife and father-in-law (who has the money?) off Scott Free. He lied for this outcome and should, in my opinion, serve a full and complete sentence.”

Scott Free? Who he? Of course, the president meant “scot-free,” which means to escape without facing punishment, penalty, harm or other consequence.

Twitter smart-alecks offered many priceless responses. “It would be nice if you could SPEAK and WRITE in full and complete sentences,” posted one. “Scott Free should co-star in Stormy Daniels’ next movie,” suggested another.

In the past, the president has also promoted “the possibility of lasting peach” and referred to counsel as “Council” on official White House letterhead.

But help might be on the way: Edubirdie, an essay-writing service, has offered Trump free Twitter proofreading services for the remainder of his presidential term.

The letter the company sent to the president is included here, in all its typo-free snarky splendor:

  • Bill Brotherton
    Bill Brotherton

    Brotherton is Features editor for the Daily Item. He is also editor of Essex Media Group’s North Shore Golf, 01907 and ONE magazines. A Beverly native and Suffolk University graduate, Bill recently retired from the Boston Herald, where he wrote about music, edited the Features section and was Editorial unit chairman for The Newspaper Guild-CWA local 31032. This is his second stint at the Item, having labored as Lifestyle editor back in the olden days, when New Wave and Hair Metal music ruled the airwaves.

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