Central Oregonian

The trouble with names is no two are the same

n Spell check doesn’t help when it comes to names

Lon Austin

Spelling has always been a problem for me.

Just ask the publisher. But names, well, that takes the problem to a whole new level.

As we work through the story writing and editing process, most spelling errors get caught.

However, spell check doesn’t work when it comes to names. Even the simplest things like “Johnson” or “Johnston” can trip you up.

Unfortunately, there are some names that just seem to get repeatedly misspelled. Finally, a kindly grandmother, or an interested third party will correct the error and hopefully, from then on, we get it right.

This year has been a special challenge on the name front.

Is it Korey Hehn and Corey Christensen, or is it the other way around? Is the photo of Kurt Russell, or identical twin Dillon Russell?

Dillon kindly told me I could tell them apart by their golf shoes. Then Kurt changed shoes. So now what do I do?

This year has the added problem of a number of foreign exchange students who are participating successfully in the athletic program. Not only are their names foreign to us, there are no grandmothers around to tell us we are wrong.

You know, for example, that it is going to be hard to spell the player’s name when the coach and his exchange family call him Robby G. I think his name is Gogshelidze. If it’s not, I’m sorry I got it wrong again.

Unfortunately, I misspelled French foreign exchange student Clara LeGrand’s name incorrectly in every story all season until the final day of the state track meet.

She was district champion in the high jump and second in the hurdles, and placed in both events at the state meet, yet all year I butchered her name.

My sincere apologies to her and all the others whose names I have misspelled both this year and in the past, and thank you so much to those of you who have attempted to set the record straight. I just hope I didn’t spell another name wrong while writing this, but if I did I’m sure one of you will let me know.