Sources of Funny English Errors
1. General
The howlers and other specimens in Funny English Errors and Insights have, in one way or another, come from or through the free and licensed resources of the National Library of Australia.
Australian newspapers provided the best starting point. One of the most useful resources for finding specimens reported in old Australian newspapers was The Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program. The National Library, in collaboration the Australian State and Territory libraries, began this program in March 2007 to digitise out-of-copyright newspapers.
The Factiva service, a service that the Library licenses from Dow Jones, helped with modern Australian specimens. The Library’s online archives of individual newspapers, such as the Sydney Morning Herald, were also helpful. For editions of Australian newspapers not yet digitised, the Library’s microfilm and microform copies and indexes still proved useful.
Most of the specimens reported in Australian newspapers trace to specimens printed in overseas newspapers. Many of these overseas newspapers were accessed through the National Library’s subscriptions to various overseas newspaper databases.
These databases include the 19th Century British Library Newspapers and The Times Digital Archive, both licensed to the Library from the Gale Group. Another useful source was Nineteenth Century UK Periodicals, a database using content from the British Library, The National Library of Scotland, The National Library of Australia, and other sources.
As well as the individual specimens accessed through the National Library’s resources, searching the Library’s databases and indexes also provided a good stock of search terms to try on other databases, such as the Library of Congress’s Chronicling America, and two commercial services, newspaperARCHIVE.com and GenealogyBank.
For Australian books of howlers and other specimens, the National Library holds the Australian titles mentioned in the bibliography and holds other Australian books consulted but not listed in the bibliography. For some of the overseas books, the Library provided access through its Inter-library loans service.
Browsing through the National Library’s collection of popular magazines, such as Punch and The Private Eye, was one of the most fun parts of this project. Academic journals also pointed to some good sources of howlers. Databases that the Library licenses, such as Academic Search Premier by EBSCO Publishing and JSTOR’s Arts and Sciences collections, made it easy to search academic publications.
For printed sources unavailable in Australia, such as The University Correspondent published in London, the National Library’s enhanced Libraries Australia service helped locate the source. For The University Correspondent, the compiler then contracted a London research agent — akin to the National Library's private professional researchers — to scan and email the relevant issues of the paper. For other overseas sources, the National Library’s Copies Direct service was invaluable.
All the photographs in Funny English Errors and Insights — Illustrated come from the National Library’s Pictorial Collection, also searchable through Picture Australia. The National Library's Pictorial Collection comprises an online collection of some 120,000 images and many thousands more hard copy photographs.
2. Specific
I have listed below the specific source for each of the 301 accidentally funny quotes that appear in Funny English Errors and Insights. (You will need to have a copy of Funny English Errors and Insights in order to match the sources with the relevant quote. Click here to order your copy.)
In compiling Funny English Errors and Insights, I have consulted hundreds of sources over many months. These sources include both secondary sources and original sources.
Secondary sources include other people's compilations of howlers. Examples of these compilations include London University's magazine The University Correspondent and compilations by Art Linkletter and the Geological Society of Glasgow.
Most of the compilations that I have used are out of copyright. For compilations still in copyright, and where I have used what might conceivably be called a "substantial part" of that compilation, I have sought and obtained copyright permission to reproduce the relevant extracts.
For example, I obtained permission from Art Linkletter and the Geological Society of Glasgow to reproduce howlers from their relevant works. Those works contain never-before-published howlers that those authors and publishers had collected from first-hand sources.
Where I have relied on a secondary source, I have prefaced my citation with the words "Quoted in". Where I have found the same howler quoted in more than one secondary source, I have given preference to the earlier source.
However, it is likely that there exists even earlier sources for each of the howlers quoted in my book that come from secondary sources. If you know of an earlier source, then please contact me so that I may update the list of sources.
Original sources include newspapers that actually made the howler or which printed the misprint (as opposed to merely reporting it) and student papers.
As for the method of citation, I have used the style recommended by the Melbourne University Guide To Legal Citation because this is the style I am most used to.
Here are the sources in which the quotes in my book also appear:
1 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1903, 374.
2 Quoted in Caroline B Le Row, English as She is Taught (1887) 15 (shortened; the full quote is “Every sentence and name of God must begin with a caterpillar”).
3 Quoted in University Correspondent, 18 December 1897, 803.
4 Quoted in University Correspondent, 18 December 1897, 803 (shortened).
5 Quoted in Albuquerque Journal, 8 May 1931, 6.
6 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, The Best Howlers (3 ed, 1957) 71.
7 Quoted in Duluth News-Tribune, 12 December 1915, 6.
8 Quoted in Alexander Abingdon, More Boners (1931) 76.
9 Quoted in Caroline B Le Row, English as She is Taught (1887) 16.
10 Quoted in Colorado Transcript, 10 October 1912, 15; University Correspondent, 15 December 1908, 370; University Correspondent, 16 December 1912, 380.
11 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1904, 373.
12 Quoted in Caroline B Le Row, English as She is Taught (1887) 16.
13 Quoted in Northern Territory Times, 4 April 1930, 2.
14 Quoted in Caroline B Le Row, English as She is Taught (1887) 16.
15 Quoted in University Correspondent, January 1936, 9.
16 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1902, 390.
17 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1909, 371.
18 Adapted from University Correspondent, 1 January 1919, 10.
19 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1906, 371.
20 Quoted in Alexander Abingdon, Prize Boners for 1932 (1932) 40; Dallas Morning News, 31 August 1919, 5; New York Tribune, 21 July 1901, 16 (shortened).
21 Quoted in SC Johnson, Schoolboy and Other Howlers (1953) 47.
22 Quoted in Gary Sloan, “The Wacky World of Theme-Marking” (1977) 28(4) College Composition and Communication 370, 371.
23 Quoted in University Correspondent, 2 January 1922, 12.
24 Quoted in University Correspondent, 21 December 1895, 798.
25 Quoted in University Correspondent, 23 December 1893, 11.
26 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1914, 10.
27 Quoted in New York Tribune, 4 November 1906, 5.
28 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Fresh Howlers (1930) 42.
29 Quoted in Hopewell Herald, 25 January 1933, 3.
30 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1921, 10.
31 Quoted in Alexander Abingdon, Prize Boners for 1932 (1932) 49.
32 Quoted in Alexander Abingdon, Prize Boners for 1932 (1932) 49; Frederick Tupper, Educational Broth (1904) 151.
33 Quoted in Duluth News-Tribune, 12 December 1915, 6.
34 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1920, 7.
35 Quoted in Progress Review, 25 May 1933, 7.
36 Quoted in The Evening Times, 15 September 1902, 4.
37 Quoted in Idaho Statesman, 4 July 1915, 4.
38 Quoted in Ludington Daily News, 18 February 1926, 8.
39 Quoted in The Magazine of the Wellingborough Grammar School (1932) 26.
40 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1909, 371.
41 Timothy Turner, Los Angeles Times, quoted in Van Nuys News, 2 November 1954, 1; Brookshire Times, 29 July 1932, 2.
42 Undergraduate exam paper, quoted in (1976) 33(4) William and Mary Quarterly 668.
43 Quoted in KR Cramp, The “Roar” Material of History (1946) 29.
44 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1920, 7.
45 Quoted in KR Cramp, The “Roar” Material of History (1946) 35.
46 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Latest Howlers (1934) 91.
47 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1926, 7.
48 Adapted from Fred Thompson, Recline and Fall (1986) 65.
49 Quoted in Texas Outlook (1928) 49.
50 Adapted from University Correspondent, 1 January 1914, 10.
51 Quoted in University Correspondent, Jan–Mar 1939, 6.
52 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, My Favourite Howlers (1951) 24.
53 Quoted in University Correspondent, 2 January 1933, 7.
54 Quoted in Alexander Abingdon, Prize Boners for 1932 (1932) 20.
55 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Ripe Howlers (1939) 16.
56 Quoted in University Correspondent, January 1935, 12.
57 Quoted in Caroline B Le Row, English as She is Taught (1887) 64.
58 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1915, 5.
59 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Fresh Howlers (1930) 76.
60 Quoted in “Howlers” 4(2) New Zealand Railways Magazine, 1 June 1929 <www.nzetc.org> (accessed 7 February 2009).
61 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Howlers Encored (1931) 107 (Cecil Hunt’s quote is “country in England”, but he probably meant “county”. The “howler” may have come from a joke rather than a real schoolroom error. A well-known joke among lawyers uses a variation of the “howler”; other jokes predate some of the specimens in Hunt’s howlers collections, including “My father was a corridor in the navy” and “A sculptor is a man who makes faces and busts”. Since Hunt received some of the howlers from readers’ submissions, it was impossible for Hunt to know the howlers’ original source, something Hunt acknowledged. But Hunt never included any howler he knew was faked or improved).
62 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1909, 371.
63 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1910, 374.
64 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1908, 371.
65 Quoted in (1961) 18(7) Educational Magazine (Victoria) 324 citing Times Educational Supplement.
66 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1905, 375.
67 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1923, 12.
68 Quoted in Rock Valley Bee, 30 December 1932, 2.
69 Adapted from University Correspondent, 21 December 1895, 797.
70 Quoted in University Correspondent, 23 December 1893, 11.
71 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Howlers Encored (1931) 65.
72 Quoted in University Correspondent, 18 December 1897, 803.
73 Quoted in WD Ian Rolfe, Geological Howlers (1980) 12. Reprinted with permission of the Geological Society of Glasgow.
74 Quoted in University Correspondent, 22 December 1900, 810.
75 Quoted in Lethbridge Herald, 29 September 1933, 4.
76 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Howlers Encored (1931) 15.
77 Quoted in (1988) 45(1) William and Mary Quarterly 172.
78 Quoted in Robin Williamson, Holy Howlers (1987) 41.
79 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Howlers Encored (1931) 14 (shortened).
80 Adapted from VV John, Light Luggage (1969) 52 (this specimen is not really a student howler, but rather a howler spoken several times by a former judge describing his trip to Paris).
81 Quoted in Geoffrey Maslen, “Donkey Hote (and Other Classics)” Bulletin, vol 122, 27 January 2004, 37; Los Angeles Herald, 27 February 1905, 6; TJ Macnamara, School Room Humour (3 ed, 1913) 73.
82 Adapted from VV John, Light Luggage (1969) 50.
83 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Latest Howlers (1934) 40.
84 Answer to 1987 Religious Studies exam, from Together, quoted in Patricia J Hunt, Holy Howlers (1999).
85 Quoted in A Course for Beginners in Religious Education (1917) 119; Cecil Hunt, Latest Howlers (1934) 44; A Course for Beginners in Religious Education (1917) 119; Worcester Daily Spy, 22 July 1903, 1; TJ Macnamara, School Room Humour (3 ed, 1913) 80.
86 Quoted in Alexander Abingdon, Prize Boners for 1932 (1932) 49.
87 Quoted in University Correspondent, 16 December 1912, 381.
88 Quoted in Alexander Abingdon, More Boners (1931) 10.
89 Quoted in Alexander Abingdon, Still More Boners (1931) 7.
90 Quoted in R Nielson, Breeding as a Sport: 101 Student Howlers (1985).
91 Quoted in Rock Valley Bee, 16 June 1933, 11.
92 Quoted in Rock Valley Bee, 30 December 1932, 2.
93 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1924, 10.
94 Quoted in Brookshire Times, 1 June 1934, 2.
95 Quoted in Salamanca Republican-Press, 19 September 1932, 16.
96 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1911, 381.
97 Quoted in Oakland Tribune, 24 October 1931, 15.
98 Quoted in Rock Valley Bee, 4 November 1932, 17. See, similarly, Punch, vol 159, 20 October 1920, 314.
99 Quoted in New York Times, 6 November 1894, 4.
100 Quoted in University Correspondent, 22 December 1900, 811.
101 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1892, 23.
102 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1892, 23.
103 Quoted in WD Ian Rolfe, Geological Howlers (1980) 5. Reprinted with permission of the Geological Society of Glasgow.
104 Quoted in Roger Brook, Really, Nurse! (1960) 26.
105 Quoted in San Jose Mercury News, 1 October 1908, 4.
106 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1902, 390.
107 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1923, 12.
108 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1924, 9.
109 Response by a primary school student, St Peter Chanel’s, Canberra, Australia, circa 1981.
110 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Fresh Howlers (1930) 63.
111 Quoted in Jerry Robinson, True Classroom Flubs & Fluffs (1965) 18.
112 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1911, 381.
113 Quoted in Art Linkletter, Kids Sure Rite Funny (1962) 95. Reprinted with permission of Art Linkletter.
114 Quoted in Trenton Evening Times, 3 April 1906, 4.
115 Quoted in Canberra Times, 7 October 1926, 3.
116 Quoted in Amsel Greene, Pullet Surprises (1969) 25.
117 Quoted in Punch, vol 129, 19 July 1905, 54.
118 Quoted in “Volcanos Give Us Hot Java” (1967) Science Digest 62, 65.
119 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1908, 371.
120 Quoted in The Times, 1 August 1931, 11.
121 Quoted in University Correspondent, 24 December 1898, 829.
122 Quoted in Springfield Republican, 25 August 1900, 5.
123 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1903, 374.
124 Quoted in Omaha Word Herald, 27 January 1907, 3.
125 Quoted in FAC Lawrence, Classic Classroom Clangers (1987) 15.
126 Quoted in Philadelphia Inquirer, 12 October 1906, 9.
127 Quoted in Alexander Abingdon, Prize Boners for 1932 (1932) 17.
128 Quoted in New York Times, 4 February 1912, SM14.
129 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1925, 9.
130 Quoted in New York Times, 6 November 1894, 4.
131 Quoted in University Correspondent, 22 December 1893, 10.
132 Quoted in University Correspondent, 15 December 1908, 371.
133 Quoted in San Jose Mercury, 30 January 1905, 4.
134 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1923, 12.
135 Quoted in The Times, 4 August 1928, 4.
136 Quoted in Amsel Greene, Pullet Surprises (1969) 38.
137 Quoted in New York Times, 6 November 1894, 4.
138 Quoted in Art Linkletter, Kids Sure Rite Funny (1962) 117. Reprinted with permission of Art Linkletter.
139 Quoted in New York Times, 6 November 1894, 4.
140 Quoted in Marshall Brown (ed), Bulls and Blunders (1894) 273.
141 Quoted in Trenton Evening Times, 24 May 1887, 4.
142 Quoted in Amsel Greene, Pullet Surprises (1969) 38.
143 Quoted in New York Tribune, 26 April 1908, 8.
144 Quoted in St Albans Daily Messenger, 31 March 1887, 4.
145 Quoted in St Albans Daily Messenger, 19 February 1920, 4.
146 Quoted in Rock Valley Bee, 14 July 1933, 2.
147 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1921, 10.
148 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Latest Howlers (1934) 73.
149 Quoted in “Schoolboy Howlers” 7(1) New Zealand Railways Magazine, 1 May 1932 <www.nzetc.org> (accessed 7 February 2009).
150 Quoted in “Schoolboy Howlers” 5(5) New Zealand Railways Magazine, 1 September 1930 <www.nzetc.org> (accessed 7 February 2009).
151 Quoted in Colin McIlwaine, Smith Minor Again (1930) 3.
152 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Howlers (1928) in The Howlers Omnibus 23.
153 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Fresh Howlers (1930) 51.
154 Quoted in Oakland Tribune, 19 September 1931, 6.
155 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1927, 10.
156 Quoted in Frank M Richmond, School Yarns and Howlers (1934) 75.
157 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Howlers Encored (1931) 75.
158 Quoted in Spice (South Carolina), 15 April 1914, 4.
159 Quoted in Oakland Tribune, 1 September 1931, 26 (shortened).
160 Adapted from Cecil Hunt, Howlers Encored (1930) 112.
161 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Hand-picked Howlers (1937) 8.
162 Quoted in Sydney Morning Herald, 28 November 1977, 1.
163 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Hand-picked Howlers (1937) 44.
164 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, More Hand-picked Howlers (1938) 55.
165 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Ripe Howlers (1939) 37.
166 Quoted in Kingston Daily Freeman, 6 October 1933, 19.
167 Quoted in New York Times, 6 November 1894, 4.
168 From a church newsletter, Catholic Light, quoted in Rachel Salisbury, “Thinking the Way to Sentence Strength” (1942) 31 English Journal 184, 192.
169 Quoted in University Correspondent, 1 January 1926, 7.
170 Quoted in Nashua Reporter, 7 September 1932, 9.
171 Schoolgirl essay, reprinted in the Boston Herald, quoted in H Allen Smith, Don’t Get Perconel with a Chicken (1957) 127.
172 Quoted in Otago Witness, 16 March 1899, 51.
173 Schoolboy essay on “Means of Saving Life”, quoted in H Allen Smith, Don’t Get Perconel with a Chicken (1957) 9.
174 Quoted in Argus, 7 June 1930, 6.
175 Quoted in Trenton Evening Times, 24 May 1887, 4.
176 Quoted in Ben Trovato, Best Howlers (1970) 13.
177 Quoted in Ben Trovato, Best Howlers (1970) 14.
178 Quoted in The Salt Lake Herald, 5 March 1905 (Last Edition, Section 2), 4.
179 Quoted in Cecil Hunt, Howlers Encored (1931) 106.
180 Quoted in Sunday Herald (Utah), 5 February 1893, 9.
181 A 12-year old’s book review for the New York Herald Tribune, quoted in H Allen Smith, Don’t Get Perconel with a Chicken (1957) 72.
182 The Times Online, 25 March 2003,
183 Peoria Journal Star, 5 September 1995, B1.
184 Fort Worth Tribune, 3 February 1978, quoted in Gloria Cooper, Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim (1980).
185 Tri-City Herald (Washington), 5 August 1982, quoted in Gloria Cooper, Red Tape Holds Up New Bridge (1987).
186 Quoted in Evening News (California), 19 January 1922, 6. Some sources attribute the headline to the Boston Transcript.
187 Star Weekender, quoted in (1980) 37(2) Educational Magazine (Victoria) 40.
188 Hartford Courant, 10 July 1964, 10D.
189 Sunday Mail (Scotland), quoted in Denys Parsons, Funny, Funny, Funny (1976) 64.
190 Adapted from Nottingham Evening Post, quoted in Denys Parsons, Funny, Funny, Funny (1976) 36.
191 Boston Daily Globe, 23 October 1889, 8.
192 Quoted in Roger Brook, And After That Nurse? (1966) 58.
193 Quoted in Roger Brook, Really, Nurse! (1960) 40.
194 Daily paper, quoted in Punch, vol 209, 25 July 1945, 69.
195 Washington News, quoted in Denys Parsons, Can It Be True? (1953) 50 (shortened).
196 Southern US paper, quoted in Daily Oklahoman, 8 April 1951, 80.
197 Toronto Daily Star, quoted in Punch, vol 147, 7 October 1914, 296.
198 Long Island Daily Star, quoted in Ho Hum: Newsbreaks from the New Yorker (1931) 31.
199 Chicago Daily News, 27 September 1976, quoted in Gloria Cooper, Squad Helps Dog Bite Victim (1980).
200 Daily Vidette (student paper of Illinois State University) quoted in, for example, New York Times (online), 11 November 2001.
201 New York tennis report, quoted in John Audrey, Bloomers (1937) 26.
202 Mysore Patriot, quoted in Punch, vol 159, 22 September 1920, 232.
203 Provincial paper quoted in Punch, vol 159, 14 July 1920, 30.
204 Morning paper, quoted in Punch, vol 150, 22 March 1916, 196.
205 Wimbledon News, quoted in Denys Parsons, Funny, Funny, Funny (1976) 10.
206 Quoted in Patrick Myler, Irish Newspaper Howlers (1978) 7.
207 Quoted in Private Eye, vol 52, 13 December 1963, 3.
208 Quoted in Janet Rogers, Hilarious Howlers and Nutty News (1988) 115.
209 Freeport News (Illinois), quoted in Ho Hum: Newsbreaks from the New Yorker (1931) 8.
210 St Louis Globe Democrat quoted in Washington Post, 1 October 1905, 106.
211 Albany Journal, quoted in Bessemer Herald, 13 January 1949, 2.
212 Agricultural paper, quoted in Marshall Brown (ed), Bulls and Blunders (1894), 259.
213 Sheffield Daily Telegraph, quoted in Punch, vol 147, 2 September 1914, 193.
214 Liverpool Daily Post, quoted in Punch, vol 153, 4 July 1917, 4.
215 Wilmington Evening Star, quoted in WW Scott, Breaks (1931) 68.
216 Quoted in Lethbridge Herald, 27 March 1943, 13.
217 Quoted in Janet Rogers, Hilarious Howlers and Nutty News (1988) 119.
218 Evening paper, quoted in Punch, vol 169, 8 July 1925, 7.
219 Irish newspaper, quoted in John Audrey, Bloomers (1937) 43.
220 Quoted in John Audrey, Bloomers (1937) 33.
221 Nelson Evening Mail, quoted in Denys Parsons, Funny Amusing and Funny Amazing (1969) 36.
222 Scotch paper quoted in Punch, vol 159, 11 August 1920, 105.
223 Quoted from Marshall Brown, Humor of Bulls and Blunders (1906) 202.
224 Adapted from Charles Bombaugh, The Book of Blunders (1871) 203 and Marshall Brown, Humor of Bulls and Blunders (1906) 203.
225 Adapted from Charles Bombaugh, The Book of Blunders (1871) 203 and Marshall Brown, Humor of Bulls and Blunders (1906) 203.
226 Newfoundland paper, quoted in Punch, vol 159, 8 September 1920, 189 (shortened).
227 Adapted from Liverpool Evening News, quoted in Punch, vol 146, 29 March 1916, 408.
228 Quoted in Fritz Spiegl, What the Aussie Papers Didn’t Mean to Say (1969) 14.
229 Quoted in Fritz Spiegl, What the Aussie Papers Didn’t Mean to Say (1969) 52.
230 Moreton Bay Courier referring to an error in the Port Phillip Herald, 13 January 1849, 3.
231 Perthshire Constitutional, quoted in Punch, vol 153, 31 October 1917, 300.
232 Daily Mail quoted in Hazel Green Herald, 24 September 1908, 1.
233 Quoted in Private Eye, vol 49, 1 November 1963, 10.
234 Quoted in Anaconda Standard, 30 November 1919, 25.
235 Saturday Evening Post, quoted in Punch, vol 198, 10 January 1940, 29.
236 Irish Times, quoted in Denys Parsons, Even More Fun-tastic (1972) 116 (shortened).
237 Quoted in Independent Press-Telegram, 11 December 1960, 17.
238 South African paper, quoted in Denys Parsons, Funny Ribtickleous and Funny Ridiculous (1979) 90.
239 Irish paper, quoted in Punch, vol 159, 13 October 1920, 274.
240 Pleasure Steamer Menu, quoted in Denys Parsons, Say It Isn’t So (1962) 72.
241 Quoted in Janet Rogers, Hilarious Howlers and Nutty News (1988) 45.
242 Eastern Evening News, quoted in Denys Parsons, Funny Ribtickleous and Funny Ridiculous (1979) 50.
243 Quoted in The State (South Carolina), 20 March 1912, 4.
244 Surrey Herald, quoted in Denys Parsons, Even More Fun-tastic (1972) 115.
245 Quoted in Dallas Morning News, 20 March 1916, 13.
246 Advertisement in Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 9 May 1947, 8.
247 Quoted in Morning Republican, 19 December 1872, 1.
248 Quoted in Times Picayune, 21 March 1873, 2.
249 New Zealand advertisement quoted in Marshall Brown (ed), Bulls and Blunders (1894), 249.
250 Quoted in Otago Witness, 16 October 1907, 91.
251 Evening News, quoted in Gyles Brandreth, The Book of Mistaikes (1982) 51.
252 Janet Rogers, Hilarious Howlers and Nutty News (1988) 52.
253 Quoted in Grand Forks Herald, 4 January 1896, 2; similar advertisements appear in Philadelphia Inquirer, 17 December 1899, 2; Philadelphia Inquirer, 17 October 1904, 13; Philadelphia Inquirer, 22 January 1906, 13; and several other newspapers.
254 The Citizen (South Africa) quoted in Reader’s Digest, Press Clangers and Bloopers (1991) 12.
255 Quoted in Janet Rogers, Hilarious Howlers and Nutty News (1988) 56.
256 Cadiz Sentinel (Ohio), quoted in WW Scott, Breaks (1931) 83 (shortened).
257 Quoted in Louis Untermeyer, A Treasury of Laughter (1946) 602.
258 Quoted in Hopkinsville Kentuckian, 3 September 1908, 3.
259 Fiji News, quoted in (1982) 39(1) Educational Magazine (Victoria) 48.
260 Quoted in Hobart Town Courier, 25 April 1829, 2.
261 Parish magazine, quoted in 159 Punch, 21 July 1920, 46.
262 Quoted in Charles Bombaugh, The Book of Blunders (1871) 20.
263 Westmorland paper, quoted in Punch, vol 209, 1 August 1945, 91.
264 A Dublin paper, quoted in Wyoming Commonwealth, 30 November 1890, 2.
265 Quoted in Sioux City Journal, 10 March 1899, 3.
266 British paper, quoted in Punch, vol 152, 17 January 1917, 44.
267 Harrowgate Star quoted in The Hazel Green Herald, 24 September 1908, 1.
268 Adapted from Evening Standard (referring to the Daily Sketch), quoted it Punch, vol 152, 11 April 1917, 234.
269 Daily paper, quoted in Punch, vol 158, 19 May 1920, 382.
270 Quoted in Katherine V Forrest, “On Publishing — Why Editors Reject Manuscripts: The Howler File”, Lambda Book Report, vol 7, March 1999, 9.
271 A women’s weekly magazine, quoted in Denys Parsons, Funny Ha Ha and Funny Peculiar (1965) 38. The 1933 edition of Punch (page 389) attributes the same quote to a “Daily paper”.
272 Manchester Daily Despatch, quoted in Denys Parsons, True to Type (1955) 48. The quote also appears in William Murison, English Composition (1926) 68.
273 Short story, quoted in WW Scott, Breaks (1931) 14.
274 Quoted in Punch, vol 209, 29 August 1940, 185.
275 Quoted in Paducah Sun, 11 August 1902, 6.
276 Quoted in Paducah Sun, 11 August 1902, 6.
277 Quoted in Charles Bombaugh, The Book of Blunders (1871) 120.
278 Quoted in Ogden Examiner, 4 October 1918, 11.
279 Quoted in Punch, vol 146, 3 June 1914, 433.
280 Quoted in D Appleton and Co, English as She is Wrote (1883) 25.
281 Notice in a shop window at Reading, quoted in Punch, vol 146, 25 February 1914, 141.
282 Quoted in Philadelphia Inquirer, 4 January 1890, 4.
283 Quoted in The Salt Lake Herald, 26 October 1903, 4.
284 Quoted in Juliet Lowell, Dear Man of Affairs (1961) 97.
285 Quoted in The State (South Carolina), 20 March 1912, 4.
286 Adapted from US Army Times, quoted in Denys Parsons, Say It Isn’t So (1962) 64.
287 Adapted from Oakland Tribune, 11 August 1940, 21, quoting Charles Einfeld telling the story of an assistant director’s request to a Hollywood animal dealer.
288 Quoted in Chicago Tribune, 6 August 1938, 6.
289 Quoted in Denys Parsons, Many a True Word (1958) 21.
290 Quoted in Punch, vol 156, 28 May 1919, 430.
291 Quoted in Juliet Lowell, Dear Sir (1944) 8.
292 Quoted in John Audrey, Bloomers (1937) 29.
293 Magistrate, as reported in a daily paper, quoted in Denys Parsons, It Must Be True (1952) 32.
294 Quoted in Juliet Lowell, Dear Man of Affairs (1961) 52. See, similarly, for example, “Story of an Umbrella” in Daily Herald (Mississippi), 11 June 1901, 2.
295 Quoted in Marshall Brown (ed), Bulls and Blunders (1894) 60.
296 Quoted in Punch, vol 159, 17 November 1920, 389.
297 Quoted in Denys Parsons, Funny Ho Ho and Funny Fantastic (1967) 136.
298 English paper, quoted in WW Scott, Breaks (1931) 80 and Etiquette book, quoted in Denys Parsons, Even More Fun-tastic (1972) 95.
299 Quoted in Punch, vol 152, 10 January 1917, 26.
300 Quoted in H Allen Smith, Don’t Get Perconel with a Chicken (1957) 13.
301 Conclusion of a story on the children's page of a magazine, quoted in Oakland Tribune, 5 November 1922, 54.
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21 Nov 10: Funny English is featured on ABC Radio's Tuesday Morning Book Club
19 Nov 10: Funny English moves up into Borders' Top 10 Bestseller List in Humour & Gifts
13 Nov 10: Funny English makes Borders' Top 20 Bestseller List in Humour & Gifts
8 Nov 10: Funny English debuts in the National Library's bestseller list for October at number 3
4 Nov 10: Funny English receives positive review by The Canberra Times. Read the review here.
31 Oct 10: Funny English is available from Borders' Christmas Catalogue under "Hot Gifts for Everyone"
29 Oct 10: Readers' positive feedback floods in. Read news ticker for examples.
29 Oct 10: Funny English is officially launched. Details to follow.
23 Oct 10: Funny English reaches 50,000 Facebook Fans
18 Oct 10: Funny English moves up from 9th to 8th in NewSouthBooks' Top 10 Bestsellers — in all categories
17 Oct 10: Funny English receives glowing customer reviews here, here, and here
13 Oct 10: Funny English is most "Liked" book in Humour at Borders
8 Oct 10: Funny English moves up NewSouthBooks' Top 10 Bestsellers — in all categories
6 Oct '10: Author of Funny English interviewed by Carol Duncan on ABC radio Newcastle/Sydney
4 Oct '10: Funny English enters Top 5 Bestseller List in Humour for Borders
4 Oct '10: Author of Funny English interviewed by Ross Solly on ABC radio Canberra
2 Oct '10: Funny English enters Top 10 Bestseller List for NewSouthBooks
1 Oct '10: Funny English is top pre-order in Humour for Borders
1 Oct '10: Funny English appears in bookstores
Comments
As soon as the book is published, I will be publishing on this site the specific source for each of the 301 quotes.
It was indeed frustrating to find quotes in other compilations without knowing the source.
Some compilations gave the impression that the quotes were fairly modern.
Yet one of the revelations of the project was just how far these howlers go back. Some date from the 1800s.
And others have proved not to be genuine howlers at all, but rather variations of old jokes or pieces that journalists had invented to put in their newspapers.
I am glad you appreciate the research; I had feared that the research that went into the book might go overlooked by the book's audience.
Let me know if you would like any tips for researching your own work.
My plan for the next volume is to publish entirely original howlers -- howlers that have never been published in a compilation before but which come from teachers' original collections etc.
Thanks again.
tomkatt.livejournal.com/ (click howlers or Engrish)
Tomkatt