Typo Eradication Advancement League Banned from National Parks

The Typo Eradication Advancement League (TEAL) has been banned from National parks for one year after defacing government property at the Grand Canyon to fix a typo.

Benjamin Herson, Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Jeff Deck, Somerville, Massachusetts, were two of the four members of the Typo Eradication Advancement League, according to AZCentral.com. TEAL's mission was to rid the world of embarrassing typos and misspellings by correcting such instances on public signs. The Typo Eradication Advancement League was busted when authorities saw the incident on TEAL's own website, which is currently down with a promise of a statement soon.

Herson and Deck used white out and a permanent marker to correct a typo on an irreplaceable historical sign painted more than 60 years ago. The incident occurred on March 28.

The men were charged with conspiracy to vandalize government property, to which each man pleaded guilty. In addition to the ban, the TEAL duo must pay restitution in the amount of $3,035 and complete one year probation. The Typo Eradication Advancement League is also prohibited from any further typo eradication on public signs.

Typo Eradication Advancement League website

I stumbled upon the Typo Eradication Advancement League's website a few months ago when someone posted a link in the AC Forums. TEAL's site featured an interactive map on the front page, tracking their progress as they traveled across the United States, searching for the next embarrassing typo. Dubbed the "grammar vigilantes", the TEAL team would seek out public signs, labels, posters, menus, etc., and correct them, usually using a Sharpie marker and some white out.

Each instance of correction was photographed and blogged, and the Typo Eradication Advancement League had quite a following. TEAL even had t-shirts for sale on their website for fans to purchase. However, in reading through their blog, I did wonder about the legalities of their actions, while still admiring their valiant efforts to educate and correct such glaring typographical errors.

According to the photo and blog post when the incident occurred, the Grand Canyon sign contained a misplaced apostrophe and a comma mistake. There was also a spelling error, but as I recall, the TEAL team chose not to correct it as they didn't wish to disfigure the sign further.

Typographical errors I wish I could fix

In my admiration for the Typo Eradication Advancement League, there are a few typos in my hometown I wish I could fix.

A billboard on the highway outside my town proudly proclaimed "No job to small or to large." This same sign also spelled the name of the business Town and Country Restuarant [sic]. Is it any wonder this business is now out of business?

In my local craft store, they have signs posted all over which state "This bussiness under surveillance." It's amazing to me they spelled 'surveillance' right and made the error on the more commonly used word.

So while I commiserate with the Typo Eradication Advancement League's frustration, I have refrained from following in their footsteps, knowing such actions would land me in legal trouble.

Sources:

WAVY TV 10, Men banned from national parks after vandalism
AZCentral.com, Typo vigilantes answer to letter of the law
Typo Eradication Advancement League website