Embarrassing Local US Newspaper Headline Goes Viral on Social Media

The importance of proofreading articles before publishing them cannot be stressed enough. Sometimes a tiny error can result in hilarious or embarrassing consequences.

A local US newspaper in Pratt, Kansas, published a story of students visiting local businesses to get information about future jobs. The headline of the story had a grammar mistake, which made the article go viral on social media.

Writer: "Is it 'firsthand' or 'first hand'?"
Editor: "Either one is fine." pic.twitter.com/36xHxrG9q1

— AJ ⚾️ (@NCSox) October 29, 2017

​Clearly the editor should have gone with “firsthand” or “first-hand.” 

The headline went viral after it was shared on Twitter by account @NCSox, generating over 86,000 re-tweets and 222,000 likes.

— AJ ⚾️ (@NCSox) October 30, 2017

— Alannah (@Alannah_Bee) October 30, 2017

— John Blaze (@mwunioncwa) October 30, 2017

— Jason Mays (@jasonmays) October 30, 2017

​The online version of the story has a more appropriate title “Students get job-site training during Disability Mentoring Day.”