A deadly typo

November 8, 2026 — 9:00pm“The recent correspondence about misnaming (C8) reminded me that over my long association with Royal North Shore Hospital’s Kolling Institute, I would get mail addressed to the Colling, Lolling, Kooling and Killing Institute,” says Rob Baxter of Naremburn.“I hastened to assure the last sender that our medical research actually saved lives.”Ann Babington of Thornton says that “there are at least two of us un-Australians who don’t like Tim Tams (C8), Adela Parkes. And I don’t even like chocolate. Not sure where that puts me.” “Thank you, Granny, for introducing me to a new word, ‘euphuistic’,” writes Elizabeth Savage of Hughes (ACT). “My spell check has never heard of it. According to my Macquarie Dictionary it is defined as ‘an ornate style of writing, high-flown language’, all in imitation of a 16th-century English author called John Lyly. I assume Ron Polgaze (C8) qualified with his ‘Lady Janice of Austinmer’ elevation. I’m not sure how I can match that but will look for further opportunities.”Meanwhile, in Hazelbrook, Ron, did happen to notice: “Mea Culpa. My dear, old horse Meataxe would hang her head in shame that her pet jackeroo had become so pretentious.”“Wondering if every newspaper editor in Australia (at least the metro dailies) was perturbed, anxious, or any other description over confusing the two Alan Joneses in the news on Thursday,” muses Bruce Moxon of Toongabbie. “One in court, one deceased, both newsworthy. Pity help any junior scribbler who mixed them up! Not to mention their distant cousin, David.”Speaking of the other Jones, Trevor Wootten of Petersham is sad about the demise of David Jones “which was the store for choosing your prestige Stamina school suit which featured a free pig skin wallet secured in the breast pocket; for many adolescent boys, their first adult style wallet. I well remember being taken by mum in 1956 to purchase my first suit, accompanied by my younger mate. Upon arriving home I remember Mum’s dismay when the mate produced about two dozen Stamina wallets purloined from breast pockets while I was being fitted for my suit by store staff. For my very honest mother, it meant a long trip back by bus so they could be returned.” “Once when the delivery person left me the ‘wrong’ paper (C8). I rang to advise such, and reported that even the recycling bin rejected it.” We thank Gail Grogan of Toongabbie.Column8@smh.com.auNo attachments, please.Include name, suburb and daytime phone.More:Column 8OpinionFor subscribersAlan JonesToongabbieDavid JonesWordPlayFrom our partners