35 Times People Spotted Such Stupid Copy-And-Paste Fails, They Just Had To Document Them
Bland. Soulless. Generic. Robotic. Totally and undeniably fake. The last thing you want is to have someone waste your time with impersonal mass-marketing emails or messages. It’s bad enough having them fill up your inbox. It’s even worse when they’re not even proofread! If you don’t care enough to at least glance over your message before hitting [SEND], why should we care about what you’re offering?
The r/copypastegonewrong subreddit is a small but fantastic online community that has been gently poking fun at some of the biggest copy-and-paste fails to ever grace the net since 2018. Professors accidentally adding an embarrassing link in their emails and job recruiters failing to write your friggin’ name are just the tip of the Iceberg of Awkwardness.
We’ve collected some of the r/copypastegonewrong subreddit’s members’ best posts to share with you, Pandas. It’s a reminder to always, always, ALWAYS reread what you wrote. (And then do it again!) Scroll down and upvote the fails that made you feel secondhand embarrassment.
Bored Panda has reached out to the moderator team running r/copypastegonewrong, and we'll update the article once we hear back from them.
This post may include affiliate links.
Please Do Not Open The Other Link
My guess is it's Sarah Elizabeth?
Load More Replies...I don’t understand how anyone does that says me who checks every sentence in my emails 10x over before even thinking about pressing send
And even then still has a panic attack and has to proofread the email after it’s sent as well
Load More Replies...Be honest...you were tempted to type in that first link to give it a look
Won't lie. Just did. It's legit just.. tasteful noøds. Nothing crazy lmao
Load More Replies...I received something similar last year: small academic research organization sent their newsletter out with a link like this at the end. I still wonder if this was a real mistake by someone or if it was the last "gift" someone sent out before quitting. I like to believe it was the latter.
Maybe Bruce Was Just Celebrating Too Hard
Well done Bruce. Great job. And also WOOHOO GO [Insert winning team logo here] !!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉
This happened to me a lot when I lived in Asia. I would put placeholder text in while waiting for translations...and as many times throughout the day/week i would say "i still need the translated copy", i wouldn't get it until zero hour when someone finally read the Chinese placeholder copy that said "Insert translation here" over and over again. "WHY DOES IT SAY THIS" I would be asked...and I'd reply "because NO ONE IS GIVING ME THE TRANSLATIONS!!!!"
It's just been announced that *insert player name* has been named the MVP!
Is There An Mlm For Books? I've Known Her Since Elementary School And She's Never Messaged Me Before...something Tells Me She's New At This
I mean, it’s not the worst idea, apart from there being libraries and easier access to thousands of books for free!
Load More Replies...100-150 people?? I have maybe 10 people I could send something to - including my 2 cats
Which is why this person is messaging someone she has had absolutely nothing to do with since elementary school 💡
Load More Replies...Seriously. And I thought Comic Sans was annoying...geesh.
Load More Replies...Screams MLM even without the second paragraph. Remember folks, sign up for the monthly auto-ship to save even more. (Auto renewing, must cancel with notarized, certified letter)
~Signed during the eclipse, at the foot of the Himalaya with a pen made from dragon bone with ink made out of a 1000 young virgins tears)
Load More Replies...Seems like an appropriate fail for someone who uses that font for their phone: didn't follow instructions, just checked the task off my list, and doesn't really care anyway.
What's mlm? Men loving men? Muslim lives matter? Idk
In an ideal world, simply men-loving-men. Otherwise multilevel marketing, or...souped-up pyramid schemes that are legal by loopholes. Sometimes legal. Sometimes they get in trouble for being pyramid schemes.
Load More Replies...This exemplifies the typical level of common sense of someone willingly involved with an MLM.
Bored Panda also got in touch with Lisa McLendon, Ph.D., for a chat about writing, editing, and proofreading text. McLendon is the William Allen White Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications and the Bremner Editing Center Coordinator at the University of Kansas, and she was kind enough to answer a few of our questions. You'll find our interview with her below.
We were curious about the kind of attitude needed when editing and proofreading text, as well as what writers can do to ensure that they won't embarrass themselves down the line.
"The right attitude is that everything needs an editor!" Professor McLendon, from the University of Kansas, told us.
"Writing and editing are two related but different skills, and having a fresh set of eyes on something you’ve written can help spot not only typos but inconsistencies, repeated text, unclear sentences or structure, potentially biased or offensive language, and questions the audience might have that aren’t answered in the piece," she noted why it's so vital not to ignore editing as a whole.
It Really Feels Like She’s Trying Connect With Me On A Personal Level
I don't have time for your dramatics, let's get down to business
For $35 dollars, that mascara better fold the laundry & wash the dishes, too.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Load More Replies...It's like when telemarketers ask you how you are, and they reply "I'm well, too, thank you for asking", even if you didn't!
Because you could be the one that makes a million dollars and buys a yacht!!!!!! /s
Load More Replies...But she only texted the boys so maybe she's just a huge Marilyn Manson fan
"Babe would you like to pre-order some EPIC mascara for $35 on August 20th??" - The Road Less Traveled
How Do I Delete Someone Else's Discord?
I have several questions and no answers but that’s probably for the best
Agreed. I really want to know, but I also really, really, REALLY don't want to.
Load More Replies...Perhaps having phone se/x with folks that have a foot fetish, that may be the template she uses...I think all those "hhhhnnggg" things were supposed to be moans....lol. Just a guess.
Load More Replies...In case your eyes still burn after 4 months IMG_0416-6...7c78a.jpeg
i dont know what they were doing in the first place, but this is on discord
Load More Replies...Admit It Marissa, You Admire The Tenacity
About three years ago I was checking mortgage interest rates but had enough foresight to give them a fictitious address in my zip code. Ever since - relentless spam about my home at fictitious address. Sometimes they forget to personalize it. Like this one : Sorry, {FirstName}}, WA Incentive May NOT Apply 11234 Main to Electric Bill Reduction
The professor highlighted that writing and editing are different skills, therefore, it's difficult to compare them in terms of which one is 'more difficult' or 'easier.' However, professionals tend to have preferences.
"Many writers bristle at editing, and many editors find writing a chore. Both are necessary for any writing intended for an audience," McLendon explained to Bored Panda.
"If someone is unwilling to edit their work, they’re risking readership. I like to put it this way: You’re asking readers to give you their time and attention (and maybe their money!), so you owe those readers the courtesy of the clearest, cleanest, most engaging writing you can give them." It's something that's worth keeping in mind for everyone whose job might be related to writing in some way or form (odds are, it is!).
Analog Click
I have a Python textbook that includes the online links, haha.
Tinder Fail
Statistically a boy, though --- at least almost all famous Sidney's are, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidney_(given_name)
We Appreciate You, Associate’s Name!
The woman on the right looks like a cardboard cutout. Enjoy trying to unsee that 😁
Wow - what are chances of two people with exactly the same name, working in the same place, appearing in the same ad??
Finally, we were interested in what a world without the copy-and-paste function on computers would look like.
Here's what the professor told us: "There was plenty of dull writing before copy and paste; blaming the tool isn’t really fair," she said.
"Copy and paste makes revision a little easier since you can move blocks of text around to get the best flow. But as with any tool, proficiency and thoughtful use brings about the best results."
Tired Of People C&p’ing My Status
If I was Maggi I would make a status that would anger a lot of people, wait for Jenna to copy and paste it (as it seems she isn't even reading it) and then delete it
Now Ashley comes in, proving that Maggi js copy/pasting her statuses, including the OMG are you serious ?!?! status.
Wait who is Ashley now? I feel old in this saga haha
Load More Replies...Like the time an industry spokesperson (for cannabis in California in the 1990s) gave me ideas to write "Letters To The Newspaper Editor" and I quoted him word for word. He was happy "my" letter was published but I think he was a bit bent out of shape about me plagiarizing him, lol. I may have been too stoned, kidding.
Tbh I’d do this just to wait until they notice, then do it to bug them. Only if we were close tho
I Love How (Characteristic) You Are!
"If this is in regards to an MLM, I would also maybe suggest that you EAT SH!+ AND DIE ALONE!"
Name Of The Group And Much More
It *almost* reads as one of those really bad messages where one party is trying to roleplay at the other.
That fortunes lost BS saying sounds like the sort of thing you tell peasants so they feel good about their lot in life and delay the uprising. Side chuckle - I tried to google the source of the phrase but mostly got a ton of hits about how much money Elon Musk has lost recently.
This is a psychological question that builds rapport... hahahahaha
Oh, don’t get us wrong, everyone makes mistakes in their line of work. Nobody’s immune to this. You might be overworked, exhausted, and unable to focus. You might have double and triple-checked every single thing that you did, but an error slipped through the cracks. In times like these, we feel that it’s best to admit to your mistake.
Don’t let your embarrassment turn into shame and definitely don’t try to run away from the fact that you’ve made a mistake. Own up to it! It’s uncomfortable, but it’s what helps us grow as working professionals.
On the flip side, some of the people sending out unedited messages might be completely lazy and not give a flip about their jobs or their potential clients, for all we know. You’d have to dig deep to figure out exactly what went wrong in each particular case.
Bad Time To Copy And Paste Your Sales Pitch, Hun
It's a joke, but the salesman didn't get it.
Load More Replies...the post is a joke (and an old one at that) substitute mortician for Veterinarian in some cases.
From the song 'She Came On To Me'..."Downtown at the courthouse, A mortician was arraigned, For relations most unseemly With the recently deceased and drained. They'd found him lying on her, Having done the deed. Then before his honor, Here's how the man did plead...Your honor, she came on to me. She came on to me. She was lying there with such provocativity. I put up some resistance, But gave in reluctantly, To her silent insistence, She came on to me"
Correct me if I’m wrong but… MORTICIAN?! That’s a dead dude doctor? How do you… know what, shut my mouth. I’m not asking how.
I've heard that post as a joke before. At least, I HOPE it's posted as a joke :/
Load More Replies...“No One Will Notice,” They Said
On another note, it wouldn't be embarrassing if female athletes were allowed dress in appropriate clothing.
These channels make it look like it's "embarrassing" as in like, there clothes fell off or something, just to get clicks. It's sick.
When Your Textbook's Author Can't Copy-Paste Well
Why are students paying for this? Why are parents paying for this? Do students have to pay a small SUV + firstborn child + books and supplies at a 1100% markup for tuition, while the Dean insists on maintaining his multi-million dollar salary somehow even though he doesn’t give back to the university anywhere close to $65M in value at all…should we spend that money taking a better job of taking care of our students? ……We take care of our students, right?”)l
Glad to see--what I presume to be a student--a student who is reading a textbook close enough to find this!
Hey, that 70% off will help save for at least 1/60th of a college textbook here in the states lol
However, the moral of the story is pretty darn clear. In order to avoid copy-paste fails like the ones that get shared on r/copypastegonewrong, you ought to care enough to slow down and put more effort into what you send. Take the time to go over the text. Edit some sentences to make them shorter, clearer, and more reader-friendly.
Check whether all of the links you’re sending actually work and, well, go where you want them to go. And please, please, PLEASE take the time to notice if what you’re sending is at least a personalized piece of text, instead of the formulaic chunk of word-dribble your company prepared for you in advance. Don’t go into auto-pilot mode!
It’s weird to realize just how much we rely on the copy-and-paste function in our daily lives. For one, it shows how ubiquitous computers have become in the workplace, and how widespread smartphones are, too. Whether you’re sending your friend a link to a funny article or retweeting/resharing a post you agree with, you’re essentially duplicating data and then plopping it down in a different context.
Make That Your Post
So even scammers have a c&p system???? I thought they were all live people offering us individual earning experiences!!! At least the Nigerian Prince knows me, even though he misspells my name a little differently each time....
That prince was caught and arrested, with piles of cash in his apartment... you're gonna have to find another prince!
Load More Replies...I think the thought behind it is that when said out loud, "dollars" goes after the number. But I hate it too.
Load More Replies...R/Moon: Articles, Photos And Discussion About The Planet Mars
Is it like how the subreddit "trees" is not about trees, whereas the subreddit "marijuana enthusiasts" is?
Ah boo, all of the celestial body subreddits are on track.
Load More Replies...I love to admire Mars from my home on the planet Jupiter.
I Finally Caught One In The Wild! Total Copy/Paste Job With Forgotten Beginning Quotation Mark
Life would be very different without copy-paste ever existing, that’s for sure. Everyone would have to type everything out while duplicating funny cat pics would become impossible. As a result, we imagine that everyone would take a slower, more nuanced approach to how they share data and send messages.
Ideally, in a world without copy-pasting, people would be more descriptive and personal in what they write. Realistically, though, internet users would probably just copy things word for word, just without the added safety net of duplicating things as they are. You might actually end up with more typos and errors than you do now!
You're Invited!
Oh I forgot about that event!, I wanted to go that day to that city.....
Don't bother. The Venue doesn't clean its toilets properly
Load More Replies...That DAY in the VENUE of the CITY was something I was looking forward to...
Wait, is that CITY, STATE or CITY, PROVINCE? Because I need to update my passport.
This Is Why It Is Always Important To Read Before You Copy And Paste
Funny, how other words for thunder at the bottom include "big H" and "hell dust."
Lil kids website talking about heroin lol. Dont worry, I was confused too
Load More Replies...Kid: *doing homework, googles"what does thunder mean"* Hey Dad, what's heroin?
Insert 3 Genuine Traits
If you’re going to be that obnoxious the least you could do is join a company better than Arbonne.
Honestly I got suckered in by my cousin. They have some seriously amazing products. What killed ne is that the vast majority of their products can be purchased super cheap - like I’m not spending $49 on a glycolic acid toner when I can get the same one from The Ordinary for $9 USD tf 😅
Load More Replies...This letter style really pisses me off for some reason - it looks like the letter style a freaking 3rd grader would use! 🤬
Just once I'd like to see something along the lines of: I think you would be amazing at what I do as you are so grouchy, antisocial, and full of rage (insert 3 genuine traits)!
(Grumpy old man voice) "You kids these days have it so easy. Why, back in my day, you had to go on vacation in order to watch someone's video sales pitch. Now they just show up in your social media feeds."
After all, it’s easy to write a lot: you start typing and you keep typing until you’ve got all of your surface thoughts on the (digital) page. It’s incredibly difficult to edit your thoughts into something coherent, entertaining, and informative. Who enjoys cutting out their own words when they’ve put so much time and energy into the entire writing process? But if your job is related to communications, editing is a must.
I'm Getting Used To The Generic Job Rejection Email... But This Is Just Lazy
Id apply for the HR job to the CEO and use this as my reasoning. Just for the heck of it.
Making An Interesting Exam For The Students
innocent cinnamon roll here-- why the f**k is there an xxx site with HAMSTER in the name and do I EVEN WANNA KNOW
To quote Monty Python: “Your mother was a hamster (and your father smelt like elderberries).” A hamster breeds very quickly. You may infer from there.
Load More Replies...I checked it too - obviously for research purposes only. However the video doesn't seem have much relevance to accounting. Seriously though its an ADULT WEBSITE so please don't investigate if that stuff offends you.
Load More Replies...Always wanted to learn the mating habits of Tunisia couples in their native habitat
Sousse is in Tunesia, so it's a local video for local people... nothing to see...
Regular old porn site, um so I was told *insert fake friend name
Load More Replies...Dear (Customer),
There’s another argument to be made for (re)writing and (re)typing things out word by word instead of relying on copy-pasting information over and over. Researchers found that passive learners, who simply study the information provided to them instead of taking notes, end up with the ‘illusion of competence.’
Turbotax - Where Copy/Paste = Clarity
Spam Subject Line Should Read:
Jimmy’s Copy/Paste Skills Explain #6
They forgot to include "Jimmy Johns founder, Jimmy John Liautaud, is a disgusting trophy hunter who posts horrible photos of himself posing with the animals he's killed."
I wonder if their meats and veggies are fresh, natural, with no artificial preservatives and Sliced every day in every store.....
You know good and well we will never know that, they couldn't even bother to let us know on their sign ... we're all in the damn dark about it!
Load More Replies...Hey! lol I'm an EIU alumna and (insert specific complaint here)
Former employee: #6 is referring to the original store is located in Illonois.
But did you know, that at Jimmy John's, all meats and veggies are sliced in store by hand, every day?
"Our all natural meat is sliced every day whether it has stripes, spots or tusks"
Passive learners believe that they’ll outperform note-takers, but actually end up remembering far less information. Rewriting information commits it to our memory far better because we’re more engaged with the material at hand. Copy-pasting the info your professor gives you into a text document will give you far, far worse results than actively taking notes on what you’re reading or listening to.
Copy-pasting is incredibly useful, yes. But it can force you to switch your brain off. Just like relying exclusively on spellcheck software.
Reddit Promoted Post Fail
Insert Product
Not sure what "insert product" is, but judging by that photo, it can't be any good...
The only insert product I can think of is a butt plug
Load More Replies...Sprint Social Customer Care Just Copy And Pasting From A Script
This happens so very often. Most of the time, it's edited correctly, but so, so many companies use scripts. Often they add a single line to personalize the message, but the brunt of it is just copy n paste.
You have to use scripts. When I did customer service I ended up creating a ton of little scripts for common things I'd have to type. Otherwise you are going to hand cramps and go crazy typing the same things over and over again.
Load More Replies...Yet I still miss Sprint. The eye-searingly bright yellow screen as my phone would start up, the consistently good network and service when I had to ask about roaming. And then T-Mobile wrecked it and the front end of the Sprint site became impossible to navigate. They said, "here's a T-Mobile sim you are required to use now," but it completely broke the phone in question as it was still under "Sprint" and not "T-Mobile" and it wasn't a situation they planned on rectifying... then the continuous billing for service months after the service was cancelled, even with no contractual obligation on my end.
Found In My Spam Folder
But what Owen?! Do you want to make money or not? Now you get your wallet out and be thankful someone offered you this program for the low low price of $97!
Load More Replies...Some emails I get (I use Gmail) show, when I hover my mouse over it before clicking to open it, something like "Preview text goes here". Clearly sent by people who aren't familiar with this!
I recently received an email from a company that started it out by saying "Dear $NAME," ... clearly their script broke!
Amazon Trying To Save Me Money
I was hoping to replenish my dash with a discount_percent% but I’m not sure what a consum_simple reorder is
The Artist Formerly Known As Antoni
Strange position in bed with the head near those books and a big tv? Also, who wakes up with that creepy smile? I bet someone who is eager to say the name.of his favourite coffee brand :)))))
To be fair, he doesn't usually have that expression when he wakes up. Waking up to a camera and lighting crew in his face kind of threw him off his game.
Load More Replies...They Don’t Realize Their Copy Paste Has Two Different Os Phones Screenshots
The phone status icons next to the battery levels, one is for android, one is for iphone
Load More Replies...Stolen From Facebook — The Mlmer Didn’t Adjust The Copy/Paste When She Posted It To A Group
"... probotics ..." So, the conspiracy theorists were right, they ARE trying to insert microchips into us. /s
Even The Us Army Is Guilty
i think you’re supposed to insert all your own details as you go, you can see it says (rank) and (last name, first name) at the top
No, that is the only section with a line for the person to fill in their name. The unit and date range were supposed to be personalized before the form was handed to them to fill in the blanks.
Load More Replies...Nice Copy-Paste Apology Starbucks
Agreed, this kind of list really appeals to my [INSERT THREE PERSONAL TRAITS HERE].
Load More Replies...My email is setup with a particular way of doing the name, so people I'm actually dealing with will say "Hi Myname", and people who are just spamming always go "Hi mYnAmE" because they're C&Ping.
"Propercase" is so easy; the spammers might be the ones who get it right and the ones you presume are spammers might be the ones being responsibe to the way you like to capitalize your name. Seriously, I work where we send out newsletters people specifically ask for: so many people use all lower-case letters to fill out forms, we just propercase everything.
Load More Replies...I used to send out cards for a small insurance agency. My template for the accompanying letter started with Dear . I once forgot to run mail merge and sent it to a customer.
Agreed, this kind of list really appeals to my [INSERT THREE PERSONAL TRAITS HERE].
Load More Replies...My email is setup with a particular way of doing the name, so people I'm actually dealing with will say "Hi Myname", and people who are just spamming always go "Hi mYnAmE" because they're C&Ping.
"Propercase" is so easy; the spammers might be the ones who get it right and the ones you presume are spammers might be the ones being responsibe to the way you like to capitalize your name. Seriously, I work where we send out newsletters people specifically ask for: so many people use all lower-case letters to fill out forms, we just propercase everything.
Load More Replies...I used to send out cards for a small insurance agency. My template for the accompanying letter started with Dear . I once forgot to run mail merge and sent it to a customer.
