After the former editor of the Times of India, Sham Lal, died, I closely followed most stories about this "literary journalist", as he was hailed by many. So, when I read through this one about another former editor paying tribute to the columnist, I couldn't but help notice this bloomer (February 23, 2007):
We spotted Sham Lal there, having a drink too. This was a rare sight. A lady I knew walked up to me and said she wanted to get introduced to him. Sham Lal spoke to her very courteously, but after a while, he started to look disinterested in the conversation.
No, not disinterested; the word should have been uninterested. Disinterested means impartial, while uninterested means to lack interest.
The same mistake was there in the Telegraph too earlier last month (February 6, 2007):
With the Congress high command in Delhi apparently disinterested in settling the leadership imbroglio in Meghalaya, the state unit of the party has decided on its own “plan of action to find the elusive answer” to end the crisis.
One of those common mistakes.
