Editing Challenges – May

Language learners and native speakers alike: Are you ready for a challenge? I’ve made a mess of my writing and need YOUR help to fix it!

The paragraphs below each contain MORE THAN 30 MISTAKES, ranging from spelling, verb tense, punctuation… Anything’s game!

Lower-level learners, try to find at least 10 errors. Are you up to the challenge of fixing everything? Give it your best shot. Then, check your answer on the second page. If you have any questions, arrange a meeting and I can walk you through it.

All editing challenges are adapted from https://nationaltoday.com (2023) and https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history (2022).

May 1 “Pluto Supernova Empire”

May 2 “Holy Loch Ness”

May 3 “Goya Eclipses Bollywood”

May 4 “Books, Large & Small”

May 5 “Why, Oh Mayo?”

May 6 “Hindenburg & Japanese Bombs”

May 7 “Manjiro Comes, Lusitania Goes”

May 8 “V-E Day & Princess Pea”

May 9 “Mother’s Day Pill”

May 10 “Congress’ Big Decision”

May 11 “Byzantium to Istanbul”

May 12 “Oldest College and/or University”

May 13 “Birth of Some Nations”

May 14 “Corps of Discovery’s Skylab”

May 15 “Tenzing Norgay & Edmund Hillary”

May 16 “Oh No, Ozone Hole!”

May 17 “Brown v. Board of Education“

May 18 “North & South Amerigo”

May 19 “Dark, Starless Day”

May 20 “Vasco da Gama’s Spirit“

May 21 “Earhart & de Soto”

May 22 “Washington, Lincoln, & Atlas”

May 23 “Honor, Glory, & Famine”

May 24 “Bridging the World”

May 25 “Constitutional Sports Records”

May 26 “Assassinated & Impeached”

May 27 “Hells Canyon Massacre”

May 28 “Indian Removal War”

May 29 “Byzantine Turtle Empire”

May 30 “Memorializing Decoration Day”

May 31 “Big Tulsa Quakes”

Surprise, one of most wideliest documented astronomy events in history occurred six hundreds years before telescope.  On May 1, 1006 Ad, stargazers to Switzerland from Japan witness the brighter supernova at record.  It may even have depicted in cave art to the natives of Arizona.  Fast-forward from this same day in 1930, where Pluto finally got it’s name.  The idea to christen these cold, dark planet after the roman god of dead actually camed from a eleven-year-old girl of Oxford, Venetia Burney.  Reaching for the stars down hear on earth, construction began this day on 1884 in the first skyscraper, Chicagos Home Life Insurance building.  And ends on won off the most tall, Empire State Building, in 1931.

Regard less of religious, they’re is not denying that King James Bible originally publishing on May 2, 1611, has one of the most influence books in english literature.  It royally-sanctioned use of common language was an bold choose when the most writers still relied on Latin for credibility.  You may surprised at how much action it’s packed in side, including so legendary beasts as the giant Behemoth and Leviathan see serpent.  Where they ever really.  Many has asked the same about Loch Ness Monster, who first maked headlines in local Scottish newspapers this same day on 1933.  The famous photo snap later a year turned off to be an hoax.  Yet mysterious-lovers continue combing a lake to that day.

“The Three of May 1808” painting of Francisco Goya were as revolutionary in style like in subject.  Depicts Spanish peasants heroic standing up an Napoleonic firing squad, recasts war with dark modem realism  .  It’s the world went topsy-turvy, many as ancient Mesopotamian astronomers must to have to felt on this same day on 1374 B.C. after witnessed histories first solar eclipse as the moon can blots out the son, wind, too, can to topple building.  The most fast wind speeds ever – 301 mph – recorded during a tornado on Oklahoma city.  Ad all this to gether for a amazing Bollywood flick “Raja Harishchandra” also premiered on May 3, 1913.  Marking the born of World’s the larger film industry.

You ready for a book trivia.  The short story ever writed maybe Augusto Monterroso’s “He waked up and the dinosaur were still their,” or Ernest Hemingway’s “Four sale: baby shoes, never weared.”  Physically-speaking, you can beet “Teeny Ted from Turnip Town,” to Malcolm Douglas, reproduce on thirty crystalline silicone pages just 70 x 100 micrometer an dimension.  Youd to need a scanning electron microscope too read.  Marcel Proust “Remembrance of Things Past it’s often cited as longest book, exceeding 9.6 million words, most largest, how ever, have the Kuthodaw Inscription Shrines in Mandalay Burma, that opened on May 4, 1868.  Each shrine hold one of 729 giant page-like slabs inscribed at both sides with the entirety of  buddhist scripture.

No, may 5^st it’s not Mexican Independence Day (that September 16)  In fact, most Mexican no celebrate this date at all, so why Cinco de Mayo such popular in the U.S.  In 1862, (exactly fourty-won years after Napoleon’s death) large force of french soldiers attack Puebla, Mexico, after the government defaulted on it’s dets.  Against all odds, the poor equipped and greatly outnumbered defenders winned.  It weren’t a major strategic victory, and it did make a huge different to the United State’s own concurrent Civil war.  The more troops France sended South, the least they have leaved to lend to the South.  Hundred years later, annual commemoration of that triumph revived to promotion Chicano proud.

The one successful airship builded on France in 1852 by Henri Giffard and soon became a poplar way to travel long distant, despite the dangerous of relying for hydrogen gas.  The most famous example of this was the Hindenburg.  Witch had just arrived in New Jersey to Germany in May 6, 1937, when a tiny spark ignites an giant fire ball.  Another balloon-related disaster occurred almost exactly ate years latter on May 5, 1945, a women and five neighborhood childrens discovered Japanese bomb in Gearhart Mountain, Oregon, that has floated into a nearby forest.  It exploded as them tampered with the device, killed everyone.  They were the only civilians attacking on american soil during the World War II.

May commemorate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month in honer of Nakahama Manjiro, the very first immigration to arrive on U.S. shores from Japan on May 7, 1843.  Five months after shipwrecking on a dessert eyeland, forteen-year-old Manjiro had was rescued and adopting by a American captain.  Year later, he returned to Japan awarded the title to samurai, and worked the wrest of his live as a diplomatic emissary.  At the Atlantic side, May 7, 1915, marks a sink of the “neutral” American ship Lusitania by German submarines.  Yes, us were secretly transporting weapons too Britain, but the fact which 128 innocent civilians died still infuriated the public and lead we one steps closer to the World War I.

Denmark author Hans Christian Andersen published the first collection of Fairy Tales Told for Children on May 8, 1835, featured the “The Princess and the Pea” other classics of him include “Thumbelina” ‘The Little Mermaid” “the Emperor’s Knew Clothses,”  The Ugly Duckling,” and much more.  If you prefer stories with least morals and moor shoot, the first James Bond movie, “Dr no,” also premiered this same days on 1963.  Even Bond must had been relieve when the World War II ended, through.  May 8, 1945, it’s remembered like Victory in Europe (V-E) Day.  Still celebrated annual by these who never want to forgot the eightfive millions people which die during that terrible conflict (about tree percent off the worlds population.

Despite doctors insist that to many thinking leaved females physically inable to born children.  Woman like Anna Reeves Jarvis still believes they could be powerful forces with in community .  He established “Mothers Day Work Clubs” to aide the pour sick and nurse wounded solders.  After she death on May 9, 1905, his daughter, also Anna Jarvis, dedicated her own live too establishing a official holiday to honor all mother.  President Woodrow Wilson announced first Mother’s Day in 1914.  And most another countries have follow suit sense.  You don’t have to been a Mother to do incredible thing, though.  This also happens was the same day, on 1960, that FDA approved worlds the first commercial produced birth-control pill?

Why the Second Continental Congress convened in the Philadelphia on May 10, 1775, mere week after fighting had erupting at Lexington and the same day which Patriot forces captured fort Ticonderoga.  Much still wanted to make amends to King George?  Thomas Jefferson written Declaration of Independence to convince Congress as much by any one else, and war declared by just won vote!  Confederate President Jefferson Davis tries to led South too freedom from the north, but he had captured on may 10, 1865, at the end of an other war.  For years later, a first transcontinental railroad joined East or West.  This it’s an important day for South Africans, two, when Nelson Mandela become there the first Black President on 1994.

Around 2.700 years ago, greek leader name Byzas settled on the Western bank of the Bosporus Straight – a smart move considers he now controlling trade between the Black and Mediterranean See.  This valuable property would continue to fought over until Roman Emperor Septimius Severus destroyed on 196 A.C.  Byzantium was no such easy forgot, how ever.  Even a hundred years later, sew Constantine the Great decided to rebuilt him as her knew capital.  Constantinople today Istanbul dedicated on May 11 330.  The Western Empire falled, yet this city would to stand as the true center of roman power four another thousands years (until the introduce of gun powder).  You know is the only city dividing between too continents.

What difference colleges and universities.  In United States, we tend to threw both term around more or least synonyms, but to the wrest of the World, “college” maybe meaning high school instead of higher education or not at all.  Liberal arts colleges offer the same four-year undergraduate programs like universities are pretty rare else where.  Two-year community colleges are other thing all together  .  All this confusion made it difficult to determining witch institution of higher education it’s real the most oldest.  But Harvard University, found on 1636, make strong case for the US. title.  That still a lot youngest than the National University of San Marcos however that opened in Lima Peru in May 12 1551.

May 13 mark the begin of knot one, but for nations, including ourself.  It’s in this day on 1607 which an hundred colonists arrived on the east bank of the James river to found the first permanent english settlement in the New World to Jamestown Virginia.  Previous attempt have been make twenyto years early, but every one from Roanoke mysterious disappeared.  In 1787, eleven ship of criminals  setted sale from Britain to began a penal colony at Botany Bay Australia, and in 1830, Ecuador breaked free from Gran Colombia, witch itself had just breaked free form Spanish.  Finally, recently liberated Indian made thing official buy electing Jawaharlal Nehru like there the first Prime Minister in May 13, 1952.

Louisiana Purchase doubled United States’ size now The President was needed some one to figure on what exactly he’d just buyed.  On May 14 1804, the Corps of Discover” setted of from St. Louis to map the America interior.  Headed by Jefferson private secretary, Meriwether Lewis, an army captain William Clark.  Them returned triumphant two and a halve years later, in large part thank to they’re native guide, Sacagawea, what was honored on an $1 coin.  One this same day on 1973, America will to launch Skylab, hour first space station, to similar help we map out the stars.  Wandering Jews finally finded a palace to call home on these day, too, in 1948 where Israel had officially proclaimed a State.

Namgyal Wangdi born on May 15, 1914 probably), in either Nepal and Tibet.  They’re are not official records because things like that don’t normally matter to pour yak farmer at tiny mountains villages.  This boy, however, would to do the impossibly and ever after was remembered in the history books, all be it by a different name – Tenzing Norgay.  Usually come after New Zealand explorer Edmund Hillary’s, mostly as side note, yet with out his experience guide, Hillary won’t have make it very hi up mount Everest certainly ever all way to a top.  Together , they summit the most tallest mountain in the word on May 29 1953.  Hillary leaved behind a crucifix and Buddhist Norgay an humble offering food.

You know which earth’s ozone layer, protect us from the most the son’s lethal radiation, is only three millimeters thick?  Scientists even discovering wholes caused by human pollution nearly the south Pole at May 16, 1985 .  The hole word – 197 nations – reacted swiftly to this horrified knews buy ban chlorofluorocarbons and other corrosive chemicals with Montreal Protocol, described by UN Secretary-General Kofi Anan “perhaps single the most successfully international agree too date.”  As the result, that holes are know slowly shrinked, expected to return from normal levels by the end of the sentry.  We can to make a difference when everyone work together.  Keep that on mind and no give up hop as us now face Global warming?

The Fourteen amendment declared in 1868 that any one borned or naturalized in United States was a citizen, regarding of color, and it’s is unlegal to deny any citizen they’re Constitutional writes.  However, on 1896, the Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson that “separate but equal” accommodations was a fair compromise to keeping ex-slaves (literally) in there palace.  Unfortunately, “separate” was never “equal” four example, seven-years-old Linda Brown had have to walk six blocks to take a bus to her run-down black school when there was a superior right one white down a road.  His case, Brown v. Board of Education, ended these nonsense, ruled unanimously on May 17, 1954, once and to all, which racial segregation are illegal.

 In forteen-hundred ninty-too, Columbus saled the ocean blue and ended up confused – its true – between Cuba an Japan.  Equally incompetence and cruel, Christopher Columbus had stripped of all titles before her dead on May 20, 1506.  Regardless, why don’t the New World bare his name?  That honor goed instead to Amerigo Vespucci for the same reason Columbus maked him discovery in the first place dumb luck.  When Vespucci first set sale for the Americas in May 18, 1499, he had nobody special – just another merchant-turned-explorer she writes extensively about his experiences afterwards, voicing dout that Brazil really was part of Asia.  And german scholar Martin Waldseemüller mistakenly credited him as originally discover.  Once his name printed on the maps (a year after Columbu’s passing, it just stucks.

On the mourning of may 19, 1780, a sky suddenly turned yellow at new England and darkness falled.  By noon, it was as dark midnight panic setted on.  Was it end off the world.  This mystery puzzled scientist four hundreds of years.  Have what caused the Dark Day?  Solar eclipses only last for a minutes and there been not recent volcanic eruptions or meteorite seeings.  Evidence do exist for major forest fires through out Canada how ever.  A similar incident occurred on 1950.  Triggered by wildfires three thousand mills a way.  The most had probably assume initial which it were some sort of soviet attack.  Fortunately, on these same date in 1967, USSR singed a international agreement ban nuclear weapons form the space.

Christopher Columbus passed by on May 20, 1506, but they’re were plenty of other explorers to take her place.  Vasco da Gama, four one, had already rounding the tip of Africa an arrive in India this same day, ate years prior.  The locals, disimpressed by his feet, attacked Charles Lindbergh’s biggest enemy was exhausting as he pilots the Spirit of St. Louis for threety-tree hours nostop from New York too Paris this day on 1927.  The plane no even have windows to sea when he going.  Finally, this all so the day in 1862 who President Lincoln signed Homestead Act.  Opening the West for a entire generations of pioneers by gave million of acres away, practically at free.

America pilot Charles Lindbergh completed first solo, nostop transatlantic fly from New York to Paris on May 21 1927.  Exactly five year latter, Amelia Earhart becomed the first women to due the same (form Newfoundland to Scotland).  He covered 3.600 miles in thirty-three ours; she done 2,000 in under fiveteen.  Fame would to cost them both dear Lindbergh’s 20-months-old sun was kidnapped and murder and Earhart notoriously disappears while tried to circumnavigate the globe.  Fellow Explorer Hernando de Soto also perished at the wilderness on this same day in 1542 after claimed Florida fore Spanish and exploring much of Georgia south Carolina Alabama and Louisiana.  His body had buried in Mississippi sew natives couldnt disprove her claims of divinity.

Atlas of Greece Mythology had a very difficulty charge, held up the heavens for all eternity, but have you never considered how challenged was for early cartographers to design accurate map with out plains, satellites, or godlike superpowers?  The first modern atlas (the book for maps) no come in until May 22, 1570.  Had you know that George Washington first job was surveying to maps.  Other fun fact Abraham Lincoln he’s the only U.S. President to held a patent.  Granted this same day in 1849 for device that lifted boats over shoals that’s pioneer ingenuity for you, also demonstrating by the thousand off settlers who head West over the Oregon Trail begining this day aswell, six years early. 

Army Sergeant William Harvey Carney becamed the first Africa America to  receive the Medal of honor in May 23, 1900, for her Civil War service.  Was born an slave, Carney had lucky to escape to Massachusetts, during his fist battle in 1863, she rescued the flag when it’s bearer fall, suffered many injuries himselves.  His selfless sacrifice inspired him comrades too victory when honor it’s pursued selfishly, however, it can to led to disaster.  May 23, 1958, all so marks the begin of China “Great Leap Forward” in to communist, start with a farmers.  Mao’s the first mistake were issue unrealistic quotas, but officials competed amongst themselves to over-fulfil this demands leaved workers with not foods.  Ten of millions starved on history’s most deadliest famine even.

If any one offer to sale you Brooklyn Bridge, no buy it opened on May 24, 1883, as largest suspension bridge in world (1,595 foots long), but that honor today went to the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge on Turkey (6.637 feet) recently complete in 2022.  This also the same day at 1844 that Samuel Morse the first demonstrated his telegraph.  Dispatching the dramatic message “What Hath God Wrought?” from Washington D.C to Baltimore.  Morse had already made her name like a famous paint, but one day receiving news by horse messenger that his wives had sick.  He rushed home to find she no only dead, but already bury.  Him knew, instant mean of communication would to change the world.

U.S Constitutional Convention opened in May 25, 1787, tasked with fixed the Articles of Confederation, document defining hour short-lived original government.  Thrown the hole thing out and starting form scratch, them instead crafted are current Constitution, the “Law Of the Land” and second-older government in the World today.  This were also a grate day in sport’s history at the 1935 Big Ten Championship in Ann Arbor, Michigan, African-American track and field athletic Jessie Owens matched our broken four world records in fourty-five minute (despite nearly had been pulling from the competition for a injury).  Few hours later, baseball star Babe Ruth hitted the final, 714^st homerun of him career.  An other record witch standed for almost forty years.

Abraham Lincoln election were controversial enough to near tore United States a part, but he widely beloved today.  Her successor, however, thrust in to power upon Lincoln’s assassination days after the Civil War ended.  Become one of the country’s the most hated Presidents, the first for only three ever to were impeached.  Kentucky-native Andrew Johnson, the one Southern senator who had remain loyal.  Tryed to stick with Lincolns postwar strategy of leniency in order of promote heal, but Congress wants vengeance.  They undermined everything she done, limiting him power with law later deeming unconstitutional, and then try to remove his from office for ignore these.  He had acquitted on May 26, 1868, when the opposition falled short by won vote.

As philosopher George Santayana written “Those who can not remember the past condemned to repeat it.  Many it’s sayed about the innumerable atrocities Americas were committed against indigenous peoples and black slaves, but its also important to recognizing the suffers of another minority groups.  Chinese immigrants was specially hatred in the Wild West one example of much hate crimes occurred on May 27, 1887, on Washington Territory.  A gang of seven horse thiefs ambushed China gold miners and shoot until they run in to ammunition, mutilating many of the body before throwing them on a river.  Thirty-four men dead, yet all of these who stand trial for the attack where found innocent by the all-white jury an walking away scot-free.

With out French and Indian War, there would have to been not Revolutionary War, General Washington, but United States of America.  It all begun on May 28, 1754, when a France reconnaissance party was ambushed in Pennsylvania by nun other then George Washington and her british militia.  Fighting hear spilled in to Europe’s Seven Years’ War on 1756, history first reel World War.  In an end, Great Britain emerged triumphant, but deeply for debt, and decided to start taxing it’s colonies.  Naturally, little appreciation was ever showed to we indigenous allies.  President Andrew Jackson singed the infamous Indian Removal Act on these same day in 1830, forcing 60.000 Native Americans west from there homeland four thousand die along the Trail of Tears.”

Historians whose claim the Roman empire lasts from 625 BC. and 476 ad forget which Emperor Constantine moved the capitol to his knew city of Constantinople in 330 A.D.  Even at Italy Ravenna and Milan growed to overshadow Rome in politics authority.  When the Eternal City fallen to barbarians, live continued pretty many the same else where.  Just under an new name – the Byzantine Empire and that endured until may 29 1453.  The impregnable walls of Constantinople holded of a millennium of attackers until Ottoman Sultan Mehmed II thinked to bring a long a canon.  It was a new World, with gnu way of fight.  This same day on 1539 seed the first Korean turtle ships, two, historys oldest armored naval vessels?

With over halve million fatalities, the Civil War remains Americas the deadliest conflict.  In it’s after math, local ‘Decoration Day” events beganed poping up in both the North and south to honor the died bye decorating there graves with flours.  Nationwide observation of Memorial Day begun on May 30, 1868, and, after the World War I, peoples start paying tribute too soldiers lost in all war.  These three-days weekend also doubles as the unofficial started to sumer, so visit the beach enjoy a family cook out or watching the Indianapolis 500 car race.  Witch also premiered this same day on 1911.  Just be shure to put in least the little time aside to remember the cost of or freedom while you at it.

Big ben, the famous clock tower erect on May 31, 1859, was lucky it weren’t on Pakistan on this same day on 1935 when an 7.7-magnitude earthquake killed fourty thousands peoples.  Exactly thirty-five years later, an other 7,75-magnitude quake of the coast of Peru setted off the worlds deadliest avalanche, killing seventy thousand.  The more powerful earthquake even recorded in Chile in May 22, 1960.  Registering as hi as 9.6, but least than 6,000 perished.  A very different disaster occurrs at May 31, 1921.  Black men Dick Rowland had accused of rape after accident stepping on a white womans feet.  Rumors spreaded and soon thousands gathering to burn down a entire black neighbor hood and massacred hundred in Tulsa Oklahoma.