Department of Education gets slammed for misspelling and typo in tweets

The Department of Education recently learned that it’s important to proofread your tweets.

The department—whose new chief, Betsy DeVos, was confirmed last week—took a beating on Twitter after misspelling civil rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois’ name in a tweet.

Here’s the original post:

Education must not simply teach work - it must teach life. – W.E.B. DeBois http://pic.twitter.com/Re4cWkPSFA

— US Dept of Education (@usedgov) February 12, 2017

Several high-profile users were quick to point out the gaffe, along with the irony of the Department of Education (of all agencies) getting it wrong:

.@usedgov *W.E.B. Du Bois

All good. Not like this is the official Twitter for the US Department of Education. 😒

— Ryan Wyatt (@Fwiz) February 12, 2017

@usedgov Looks like @BetsyDeVos is in charge now! http://pic.twitter.com/paajsZsUSL

— Mike Flacy (@mikeflacy) February 12, 2017

Um. You spelled his name wrong. It's DuBois. Happy Black History Month, everybody! https://t.co/q1TLQpH386

— Soledad O'Brien (@soledadobrien) February 12, 2017

Is it funny sad or sad funny that our Dept. of Education misspelled the name of the great W. E. B. Du Bois? https://t.co/egi6Nn15gp

— Chelsea Clinton (@ChelseaClinton) February 12, 2017

The department tweeted a corrected version along with the following apology, which also contained a typo:

"our deepest apologizes" http://pic.twitter.com/0STAOGo3fD

— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) February 12, 2017

It followed up with a correction shortly after.

Post updated - our deepest apologies for the earlier typo.

— US Dept of Education (@usedgov) February 12, 2017

Though some social media users argued that mistakes and typos happen on Twitter—and that people shouldn’t be so harsh in their judgement—others argued this retort: It’s the official account for the Department of Education.

[Calling all executive communications directors and VPs: Join us at Facebook HQ for the Facebook Leadership Communications Summit!]

The NAACP, which Du Bois cofounded in 1909, had the final say on the matter:

"In the Days of Loose & Careless Logic, We Must Teach Thinkers to THINK." - William Edward Burghardt DU Bois 👏🏽 https://t.co/3m03Vnt5C1

— NAACP (@NAACP) February 12, 2017

Though it might seem like a minor mistake, the gaffe caused a headache to the agency’s social media team and made headlines. PR and marketing pros would do wise to remember to proofread.

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