May 24, 2007 – Metropolitian

Many typos involve words that end in –ion or –ian or –ious, where the i has been accidentally omitted. (Typical examples include: Administraton, Associaton, Christan, Civilizaton, Collecton, Divison, Editon, Educaton, Exhibiton, Foundaton, Informaton, Musican, Physican, Politican, Populaton, Technican, Translatin, Transportaton, and Varous.) Less common is the reverse situation, like that of today's typo, in which the ending –an is incorrectly rendered –ian. But that's far from the only way to misspell this classic moniker for art museums, opera houses, newspapers, and insurance policies, along with trains, cars, beds, guitars, and more. Other forms of this typo found on the Ballard list include:

Metropli* Metroplo** Metropolian** Metropolican** Metropolitin* Metropoliton Metrpol* Metrobp**

Metrolp** Metropolitan-Ara* Metropolitio** Metropololi** Metropolotia** Metropoo** Metropp**

(Illustration is from a poster for the 1927 German film Metropolis by Fritz Lang.)

Carol Reid