Candidate for a Pullet Surprise
Candidate for a Pullet Surprise | |
---|---|
by Jerrold H. Zar | |
Written | 1992 |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Genre(s) | Humour |
Publisher | Journal of Irreproducible Results |
Publication date | 1994 |
Lines | 36 |
"Candidate for a Pullet Surprise" is a poem by
Composition
Use of electronic mail rapidly increased in the early 1990s. Mark Eckman was working for
Jerrold H. Zar, then the Dean of the Graduate School of Northern Illinois University, was inspired by Eckman's poem and wrote "Candidate for a Pullet Surprise" in 1992. The first two verses are based on Eckman's poem and the title was suggested by Pamela Brown.[2] Zar stated in 2012 that he had never recited the poem, as its impression is made only when read.[2]
I have a spelling checker |
I have a spelling checker, |
—1991 poem by Mark Eckman[1] | —"Candidate for a Pullet Surprise" by Jerrold H. Zar[1] |
The poems gradually increase their use of homophones, which a spell checker would treat as correct. According to Zar, 127 of his poem's 225 words are incorrect, though correctly spelled.[2]
Publication history
The poem was first published in the science humour magazine Journal of Irreproducible Results in the Jan–Feb 1994 issue, and was reprinted in that publication in 2000.[2]
It circulated widely as a viral email, often amended, retitled, or with erroneous attribution.[1][2] On some websites it is titled as "Owed to a Spell Checker", "Spellbound" or "Spell Checker Blues" with authorship to "Anonymous" or "Sauce unknown".[1][2]
The poem has also been reproduced in numerous books on writing, editing, and publishing ethics.[2] It is reproduced in the foreword of the English Style Guide of the University of Johannesburg.[3]
Reception
The poem has been noted as a cautionary tale for over-reliance on technology.[1][4]
Writing for
It inspired the children's poem "Would yew bee happy two no it".[5]
See also
References
- ^ ThoughtCo. New York City: Dotdash. Archivedfrom the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g Shackle, Eric (5 March 2012). "How To Win A Pullet Surprise". Open Writing. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ "English Style Guide" (PDF). University of Johannesburg. 2014. pp. 3–4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ ISBN 9780761945994. Archivedfrom the original on 21 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ISBN 978-1452004587. Archivedfrom the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.