WATCH OUT! I'M ABOUT TO LOOSE MY EGO!

If you are job hunting these days, be careful which ads you respond to. An ad that has poor usage probably reflects a company that is not well managed. Here is a good example from Saturday's local newspaper:

SALES If you are out of work? If you can loose your ego? Let us train you! We can have you making $400-$900 per wk within 2 weeks.

There are several usage problems in this ad, but the most glaring one is the use of the word "LOOSE." The company has confused "LOOSE" with "LOSE."

LOOSE is usually an adjective that means "set free" or "not fastened." When used as a verb, it means "to discharge or fire (like a missile)" or "to release the pressure on." I doubt that's what the company is looking for--someone who can release the pressure on his ego and let it fly in the face of the customer like a missile.

LOSE is a verb that usually means "to rid oneself of" or "to be unable to find." My guess is that this company wants an employee who can lose his ego enough to accept training from experienced people.

I think this company meant to advertise this way:

SALES If you are out of work? If you can lose your ego? Let us train you!

One more note of caution: Any company that promises to have you making good money in sales within two weeks is probably going to want you to pay up front for their training.