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I've had a "complaint" from a friend about a birthday card I made for her saying "Happy Bleated Birthday". She contends that her birthday was not late, but that the greeting card was.
So what do you all think? Should we say "Belated Happy Birthday" or "Happy Belated Birthday"? I've two stamps that say the happy first!
Should I be looking for new stamps? LOL
__________________ My word for the year 2024 is CLEAR
WOW!! I have never given that any thought! I just read your post to my hubby and he said that she is correcting your english! I said if you go into a store and look for a belated birthday card, most of them say happy belated birthday! And not to be mean, When I read him the last line (should I be looking for new stamps?) I said "No, but maybe a new friend!!" If your friend said that in all seriousness, I think that it seems a little rude. You took the time to think about her and make a card. Just sayin'
I've had a "complaint" from a friend about a birthday card I made for her saying "Happy Bleated Birthday". She contends that her birthday was not late, but that the greeting card was.
So what do you all think? Should we say "Belated Happy Birthday" or "Happy Belated Birthday"? I've two stamps that say the happy first!
Should I be looking for new stamps? LOL
Personally, I think you should be looking for a new friend, lol. Kidding, sort of. I am happy when any of my friends send me a card, late or not, and grammatically correct or not!
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
Good grief! I hate to think how she will respond when a 'real' life problem comes her way. Seriously, is that the biggest issue in her life?? Wording of a phrase? Or is it 'phrase wording' or is it 'wording OF phrase' or... you get my drift ;)
Well that's semantics for you. Was this person on the school debate team? An English teacher?
I wouldnt worry about it. Yes the wish is belated and you are sending a happy one. In other words I think it could go either way. I get it, but it's splitting hairs.
I go with the be happy you got a card vote. I doubt anyone else is going to think about it. No, dont run out and buy new stamps. If she makes a thing out of it I'd give her the stamp company phone number and tell her to complain to them herself.
Well that's semantics for you. Was this person on the school debate team? An English teacher?
Some of us can't help noticing these things. Even though I try to adopt a different reading style online (I'm a proofreader - staying in that mode would be a nightmare online!), the first thing I noticed was that Jeanne made an adorable typo - she said "bleated" instead of "belated" and I instantly had an image of a card made with a sheep stamp using "bleated" rather than belated
I like Kristen's "chop up the stamp" suggestion - you can be grammatically correct without spending extra money!
LOL, I noticed the bleated too, and was also thinking of a sheep stamp.
I took it, since "complaint" was in quotation marks that it was more along the lines of a comment than an actual gripe.
I'd agree that it would be more grammatically correct if it said "wishes" or "greetings" after the birthday, but I wouldn't worry about it either way. I'm pretty sure that I would be comfortable using either "happy belated birthday" or "belated happy birthday" , whereas it certainly niggles me every single time I have to use stamps with "American" spelling for words like colour, for example.
For a long time I thought an Aussie friend was spelling organization wrong! Then I found out they spell it differently there! (At least I think that was the word if I remember correctly. I'm still coming down from surgical anesthesia!)
For a long time I thought an Aussie friend was spelling organization wrong! Then I found out they spell it differently there! (At least I think that was the word if I remember correctly. I'm still coming down from surgical anesthesia!)
Yes, a lot of the words you spell with a "z" we (and the Aussies) spell with an "s" so you're quite likely to be remembering correctly. Same with Sabrina's example with the "o" vs "ou" spellings. It's likely to give us fits when you get them occurring together (colorize, for example - eek!).
Hope the surgery was successful and the effects of the anesthesia aren't too long lasting!
Some of us can't help noticing these things. Even though I try to adopt a different reading style online (I'm a proofreader - staying in that mode would be a nightmare online!), the first thing I noticed was that Jeanne made an adorable typo - she said "bleated" instead of "belated" and I instantly had an image of a card made with a sheep stamp using "bleated" rather than belated
I like Kristen's "chop up the stamp" suggestion - you can be grammatically correct without spending extra money!
I should have completed the thought-that most people would not ever notice that. My mom was an English major so I grew up with that kind of observation all the time, usually over dinner.
I didnt mean a slam on those professions/activities. Sorry. I cant even imagine being a proofreader...I see so many wrong things everywhere in the world from Chinese restaurant menus to online, esp as more people move to using text contractions. I know in the past year I have been leaving words out/having typos in my messages. I try to review and then cringe when I see it later. :rolleyes: I know it's b/c I am too distracted.
I didnt mean a slam on those professions/activities. Sorry. I cant even imagine being a proofreader...
No slam detected and no offence taken I'm kind of glad I'm not fluent in any other languages so I don't see all the horrors that are out there in those languages too! I do tend to notice if somebody used an oriental script character the wrong way up even though I have no idea what the character means - to me, they just look wrong when they're inverted.
Oh, and typos in messages/forum posts? Definitely par for the course and I'm in no way exempt from making those ;)
well I have never thought of that. I have to say that now it will bother me for eternity LOL!
It was probably meant in fun. There are a lot of sayings out there that are grammatically incorrect and people mention it. I too would cut the stamp up and might have to go in my stash and see if I have any that need correcting.
I wouldn't worry about it, I do like the comeback Kathy (muscrat) gave for it.
Some of us can't help noticing these things. Even though I try to adopt a different reading style online (I'm a proofreader - staying in that mode would be a nightmare online!), the first thing I noticed was that Jeanne made an adorable typo - she said "bleated" instead of "belated" and I instantly had an image of a card made with a sheep stamp using "bleated" rather than belated
I like Kristen's "chop up the stamp" suggestion - you can be grammatically correct without spending extra money!
Me too but I recognize that we all err once in awhile. I am a reader of classic, "real" if you will, literature, like Jane Austen. Her sentences are well crafted and I appreciate fine writing. I notice grammar as well. BUT I would never point out those kinds of things to someone else, especially if they had been so thoughtful as to give me a card.
I am an expert in sending birthday cards late...it's a bit of a joke in my family. If someone receives a card "on time" than he/she must be EXTRA special! ;-)
So, I have several stamps for the occasion, and I never thought about the grammar issue. Most say Happy Belated Birthday, but a few do say Happy Belated Birthday Wishes, or some such thing.
I am usually fairly picky about word usage, though I am not an English teacher or professional writer. I just enjoy words...reading and writing and public speaking. This new awareness will quite possibly drive me nuts!
It reminds me of one of my pet peeves...when people ask me about handicapped parking. I tell them that I am the one with a disability, so I would prefer the parking spot to be quite healthy, lest I end up in even worse condition. ;-)
__________________ Kim in Illinois, Dirty Dozen Alum, QFTD#207, FS798, VSN Moderator, Weekly Sketch Challenge Team
Some of us can't help noticing these things. Even though I try to adopt a different reading style online (I'm a proofreader - staying in that mode would be a nightmare online!), the first thing I noticed was that Jeanne made an adorable typo - she said "bleated" instead of "belated" and I instantly had an image of a card made with a sheep stamp using "bleated" rather than belated
I like Kristen's "chop up the stamp" suggestion - you can be grammatically correct without spending extra money!
Am so embarrassed! But thanks for the laugh. Thanks too everyone for your comments and ideas on this. Hey, SCS - we need a spell check on here! For typos too.
__________________ My word for the year 2024 is CLEAR
I'm a great proofreader when it comes to other peoples work, but not on my own. I think it has something to do with knowing what I wanted to say and seeing that way.
Am so embarrassed! But thanks for the laugh. Thanks too everyone for your comments and ideas on this. Hey, SCS - we need a spell check on here! For typos too.
It's currently well-hidden but I have a stamp that says "It may be late but it's hand-stamped.". When I can find it, I use it on the envelope flap of belated cards.
Hmmm... I had never given that any thought. From now on if I get a Happy Belated Birthday card I am going to buy another cake and have a second birthday. Technically that would be appropriate I think rather than pointing the faux pas out to my friend. Plus.. any excuse for more chocolate cake works for me.
(in Seinfeld soup nazi voice I say to the "friend" who is so picky... "No Cake For You!")
If someone makes me a handmade card with a four legged snowflake or a candy corn with orange on bottom instead of yellow I would be thrilled. I can understand correcting people when you're a teacher in a classroom (which I was for many years) but I absolutely cannot understand "correcting" someone in art, in a handmade (or non-handmade) gift, etc.
If someone gave you a cookie would it be polite to say that you detected 1/4 tsp. salt instead of 1/2 and next time they should give you a cookie that was correct?
Graciousness is an art too .
Maybe it's a regional thing. In Texas, if someone gives you something, the ONLY respectable response is thank you .
I am an expert in sending birthday cards late...it's a bit of a joke in my family. If someone receives a card "on time" than he/she must be EXTRA special! ;-)
So, I have several stamps for the occasion, and I never thought about the grammar issue. Most say Happy Belated Birthday, but a few do say Happy Belated Birthday Wishes, or some such thing.
I am usually fairly picky about word usage, though I am not an English teacher or professional writer. I just enjoy words...reading and writing and public speaking. This new awareness will quite possibly drive me nuts!
It reminds me of one of my pet peeves...when people ask me about handicapped parking. I tell them that I am the one with a disability, so I would prefer the parking spot to be quite healthy, lest I end up in even worse condition. ;-)
I too am noted for sending late cards, but that's the way my world rolls. Now that it's been brought to my attention, "belated happy birthday" does seem more appropriate. I'm beginning to feel a little uncomfortable with all those (many) happy belated birthday stamps I have. But I won't write it in my cards anymore.
Love the comment about the handicapped parking. I have enough issues without my parking space having problems also. LoL
Dea
Do you have a stamp that says Wishes or could you do some single letter stamping the word Wishes.
You could use your stamps Happy Belated Birthday.... then add a separate word of Wishes. So, "Happy Belated Birthday.... Wishes"
Just a thought. I didn't read the other comment, so I don't know if it was mentioned or not. I'll peruse the other posts to see if anyone thought like I did. I think 1 out of 50 might have a complaint. Most appreciate the late birthday wish regardless of how it was worded;)
Re post #26, Love "graciousness is an art"!! We have an old, old Christmas magazine that made the journey here from Canada with my mother when she moved here, and while it's mostly crafts and cooking, one feature was about accepting (gifts) with grace. Forty something years on I still remember the first time I read it. It's stuck with me all my life.
LOL because if anybody got a card from me with candycorn on it, it quite likely would be "wrong" colours since we don't really have it here.
To O.P: I think your friend was 'paying you back' for forgetting her birthday date, and sending a late card, by saying it was incorrectly worded. It WAS incorrectly worded by the creator of the stamp. The word belated means "coming or happening later than should have been the case" in a quick Google search. So the Birthday (date) is not belated, our sending Happy for that birthday is late. Sending "Happy Belated Birthday Wishes" is just as bad. Using words incorrectly is one of my pet peeves. This has prevented me from buying several cute stamps! I do not correct my friends unless they ask me...that would be impolite, and one-upmanship.
Next year you Must send her a card with sheep and 'bleated' greetings! That could be really cute!
I personally do not think there is a wrong way to wish someone a Happy Birthday regardless if it is belated or not.
What you could do, if you have an electronic die cutter, you could possibly create your own stamp. There is the stamping material that you can cut out your very own greeting.
I half want to say shame on her for making you feel bad about it, but I agree she was probably just giving you a bit of a jab for being late.
Just another option if you have the ability to create your own greeting.
Crackin' up here! Candy corn color...too funny! Who even notices those things? Besides they come in a lot of colors now! It's like Peeps! They come in half a dozen bright colors now-and there are bunnies and stuff too. I think if anyone ever said something to me about the color of candy in a serious way, I'd laugh so hard I'd wet myself while choking out they need to get a life.
Ya-haa on the second round of cake!!! I'm with you! So many wonderful types of cake out there-great way to have more than one! I think of it like-have a Happy Birthday week! Why stop at a day?
This thing is kind of like the person you have over for coffee and when you leave the room, they walk around with a finger checking for dust. (a friend of my mother's used to do that-back then no one paid attention to kids being in the room) Pffft. Someone does something nice for you and you respond in a negative way.
Easiest fix I can think of: Just use Happy Birthday and on the inside hand write "sorry I am late with this". Viola. Gives you something to write other than repeating Happy Birthday. There are lots of late sentiments out there though. Whole sets! Obviously quite a few people send late LOL
I just checked mine-yep they are the wrong way. Dont care. Some others say stuff like I just wanted to give you longer to party or whatever.
Nice thing about getting older (I take all I can get lol)-I am expected to forget things/get confused! They are lucky they dont get a xmas card on their bday! Hahaha.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
Phrase question on late cards
Oops
