Too Prestigious for a Spellchecker: Tsinghua University Shuts Da Vinci Exhibition Due to Embarrassing Spelling Mistakes

Margaux Schreurs | Sep 21, 2016 4:30 pm | 4 comments | 3384 reads

More than 60 of Leonardo da Vinci's original manuscripts are on display at the recently built Tsinghua University Art Museum until December 9, one of the museum's first exhibitions. 

The exhibition was opened almost without hiccups, except for the fact that there were an embarrassing amount of spelling mistakes, mostly of the famous masterpieces, ejinsight reported.

Allegedly there were over 10 obvious English mistakes, including the "Last super," and grammatical mistakes such as "47 years old he leaved from Milan," when describing how Da Vinci left home at age 47.

Reasons for the errors were given as not enough time to proofread. As editors, we can most certainly sympathize with time constraints but c'mon Tsinghua, don't you have a prestigious reputation to uphold?

Following both ridicule and constructive feedback from netizens, the museum was closed for three hours last Saturday while the mistakes were fixed. The museum also sent out invitations to those who helped correct the English.

You still have until December 9 to visit the hopefully now mistake-free exhibition. Entry to the regular exhibitions costs RMB 20, whereas RMB 60 will get you a look at da Vinci's incredible work.

Tsinghua University Art Museum
30 Shuangqing Lu, Haidian District
清华大学艺术博物馆：海淀区双清路30号

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Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
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Photos: ejinsight

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teagirl007's picture teagirl007 Submitted by Guest on Wed, 09/21/2016 - 23:07

It's a tiny reflection of the corruption in both the education and employment system in China. Guanxi plays a better role almost everywhere.

Or maybe it's the fake native English speakers in English schools to be blamed. Some look decently white, but their English is much more broken than mine.

haha! Life is sweet, although sometimes bitter.Well! It doesn't matter.且歌且行~

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