A Word on the Words: ‘Dead body found in cemetery’ and other bad newspaper headlines

CHEFS throw out their mistakes, doctors bury them – and newspapers publish theirs.

Pages are put together at speed so that the latest possible news can be included.

Sometimes we make mistakes.

Spelling errors are bad enough, but among the more difficult mistakes to guard against are when you write a headline that looks OK, and is spelled correctly . . . it isn’t until you have a think about it (usually after it is on the streets!) that you think: “Hmm!”

Here are some of my favourite “Oh dear” headings from times past (not from The Sunday Post, I hasten to add):

• One-armed man applauds the kindness of strangers.

• Dead body found in cemetery.

• Only two storeys high, but the blind don’t see it that way.

• Juvenile court to try shooting defendant.

• Child’s death ruins couple’s holiday.

• Miners refuse to work after death.

• Crashed jet flew too low, inquiry hears.

• Police raid gun shop and find weapons.

• Diana was still alive hours before she died.

• Red tape holds up new bridge.

• Queen Mary is having her bottom scraped.