Michelle Engbino

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Jun 23, 2025
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A woman invented 'liquid paper'

Remember the little bottle of correction fluid you might have kept handy back in the day? Many Australians will recall using it to neatly cover up mistakes when writing letters, typing documents on a typewriter, or even balancing the household cheque book. It was a staple in office drawers and school pencil cases alike.

That everyday product was actually the brainchild of a woman named Bette Nesmith Graham. Working as a secretary in the 1950s, she grew frustrated with having to retype entire pages whenever she made a mistake. Drawing on her background in painting, she mixed up a paper-coloured liquid that could be brushed over errors, allowing typists to correct their work quickly and cleanly. It was a simple idea, but it changed office life forever.

Today, while computers and spellcheck have all but replaced it, correction fluid still brings back memories of school desks, office ledgers, and handwritten notes. And it stands as a reminder of the creativity and perseverance of everyday people—like Bette Graham—who made life just a little easier for millions worldwide.


Source: How Things Work / Youtube.​
 
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She was the mother of Michael Nesmith, from the band called The Monkees
 
Michael Nesmith’s (MONKEYS) Mother
 
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