An Editor's Heart

Observe the following email that I just sent to Red Butte Gardens:

Hello,

 

It has come to my attention that there are various errors of language usage on your website. Since you are sponsored by the university, I thought you might like to know.

 

On the page <http://redbuttegarden.org/spring_plant_sale>  under the subtitle "shopping tips" the phrase "let us wet your appetite" appears.  Why would your appetite be wet?  The correct word is "whet" which means to sharpen.

 

On the page <http://redbuttegarden.org/residential_landscape> the phrase "landscape design principals" appears.  Remember, the principal is your "pal."  A principal is a person.  As an adjective it can mean important or influential.  A principle is a rule or law of a code of conduct.

 

If you are seeking freelance editors, let me know.

 

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In my humble opinion, a website sponsored by a university should hold itself to a higher standard.  Simple typos are one thing, but obvious errors of usage pain me.  When I exclaimed my disgust, my husband basically said that no one knows the difference between wet or whet nor cares.  Also, he said no one employs editors.

 

My editor heart hurts.