My Bad
A typographical error is a mistake made during the typing process. The term includes errors due to mechanical failure or slips of the hand or finger, but excludes errors of ignorance. ~Wikipedia
I highlighted the word mistake because that’s what a typo is, it’s a mistake and even though we all make them, nothing unnerves people like a typo. Why is that?
Illustration: We’re surfing the web, maybe we’re reading a blog post, and then we see it, a typo. We look at it, maybe we go back and reread the sentence again. Yep, it’s a typo and we stare at it like it’s a two-headed monster.
Next, we either run away screaming or somehow we muddle through the confusion of H being transposed with E and realize the word the author meant to type was “the” and we leave a comment.
After clearing up the confusion in our mind, we go on our merry way, but we can’t stop thinking about that typo! We go back to their blog, or the article, to see if it’s still there, and it is, the author hasn’t corrected it yet.
We scratch, we twitch, and maybe we call Bob from Accounting or send a copy of the typo around to people on our email list and announce we found a typo. No mention of a cure for cancer, but we found a typo. Unable to cope, we send the author an email pointing out their gaffe. All better now.
Seriously? That type of behavior reminds me of a cop who writes a ticket for a parked car because the meter expired while the burglar behind him tiptoes away with the booty. There are more pressing issues, especially in casual writing situations, when a typo can be overlooked.
So, besides the embarrassment, what is it about the typo that agitates people to no end? Is it our place to contact a blogger, or anyone, if they have a typo in their writing? When we make errors, are we as vocal about our mistakes as we are with the mistakes of others?
I read a couple of blogs that remain typo free, I commend you, and I’m sad – not really – to say I won’t be joining you in the ranks. I make typos here, not on purpose, of course, and if I’m a regular reader of your blog, then I leave typos there too. I might leave another comment asking the blogger (if I know them well enough) to fix my typo, or not, but I know I suck at proofreading.
Is that a lazy way of thinking. I suck so I refuse to try? No, I think it’s more of, I know when my writing needs to be error free and if I have an occasional slip of the finger, it’s not the end of the world, for me. I’m not saying we shouldn’t care or that it’s okay if our blog posts or emails contain errors, but if it’s a minor typo, can’t we all just get along, without the nitpicking?
Of course, no article, blog post or anything written should have an excessive amount of typos, it’s embarrassing and it looks bad.
If you’ve made a typo on your blog and someone contacted you about it, is it a big deal, do you freak out, become upset or do you say thank you and correct it?
I’m curious, how do you feel about typos? Should you or do you correct the typos from commenters on your blog? Is it about being perfect or not looking sloppy or ignorant?
I think Dee said it best when she said typos don’t appear until we (bloggers) hit publish.
This post was proofread by me and another set of eyes. I am nervously going to hit publish now, but if you should happen to find a typo, please do not email me, I made a mistake and I’m okay with it.
Additional Reading:
Jeff Deck’s Fearless War on Typos
In: Blogging, WTH · Tagged with: Error, Mistakes, Typos
on June 3, 2009 at 9:19 am
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It doesn’t bother me too much when somebody points out a typo, although I think people who don’t make any effort to do it discreetly lack home training.
One of my pet peeves is the hyperbole people use to describe how they feel when they see a typo or spelling/grammar error. If seeing it’s instead of its makes your teeth hurt, I suggest you need the assistance of a good dentist, because there is something wrong with your enamel. People who want to slit their wrists at there instead of their should have to spend an entire year volunteering at a community mental health center.
yeah, seriously. you want to slit your writs over a typo. go right ahead then, please do not bleed on my shoes. i guess it depends on what gets us excited. i do tend to freak out when things are not organized, but it’s all inside my head. i’m not slitting my wrists and my teeth don’t hurt. well, maybe my eyes bleed and i die a thousand times inside, but that’s it. lolololol.
Tracy´s last blog post..Paying the Piper
on June 3, 2009 at 9:32 am
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I make typos and I don’t mind when people let me know – I probably won’t notice them myself. I would prefer an email than letting me know in the comments but whatever. I messed up some of my links pretty bad last weekend and someone let me know in the comments – I was glad though because it made two articles unavailable.
I’ve corrected tiny errors in the comments for people that I know but I don’t have too much time for it. There are a lot of people visiting my site too who are not native English speakers so I don’t expect their writing to be perfect. I’d love to see what a comment of mine looked like in their language
I’m with Tracy about the hyperbole – errors make people want to slit their wrists? Some people need some real problems.
One friend of mine frequently types teh on purpose in his articles – someone always corrects him – I always think – did you you not get that he was making a joke?
i don’t mind if people tell me that my links don’t work…if i expect people will want to go there, then i expect it to work. i’m happy to have someone look over my work but before it goes out, after i hit publish, well then the horse is out of the barn or am i trying to close the door after the horse has left. what’s the saying? close the barn doors before the cows come home? huh? okay i’m being silly, but some people sit on some high and mighty thrones they don’t need to be on….all the time.
Kim Woodbridge´s last blog post..How to Edit and Delete Facebook Applications
on June 3, 2009 at 9:42 am
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You wouldn’t believe the typos I made a while back .. until I discovered a handy little thing called a spell checker
Yeah, pretty obvious, I know. But that’s not what I really wanted to say. You see, after a while of using the spell checker, while almost error-free, my spelling started degrading. I noticed that I make tons of mistakes, mistakes I wouldn’t have made before. And all because I don’t have to think about it, my plugin does all the thinking for me.
Now my spelling, without any help, is at the level of a 3rd grade child. Awful.
okay Odchudzanie Poznan, you made me LOL!!! i’m in the 2nd grade then. i was in a spelling bee once. now i have to think which way the circle goes when i write the letter b – and i read a lot of books!!! oh well, next year, first grade.
on June 3, 2009 at 9:58 am
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I really like it when people take time to let me know there was a typo or an error on my post since this way they show engagement to my text (most of the times at least). I think every blogger should look at it that way…
hi stratosg and welcome. you really like it? well that’s a great attitude for you to have. has anyone contacted you lately? what did they say and how did they say it? privately or in the comment section?
stratosg´s last blog post..Member Of The Month: May
on June 3, 2009 at 10:03 am
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Typos don’t bother me so much. We all make them, and they do slip through proofreading.
Grammatical errors (especially in pronouns!) will likely lose my readership. The occasional slip, I don’t mind. But the ones with more than two per page?
If you don’t care enough about what you’re saying to say it correctly, why should I?
(Exception: those who blog in English as a second language. They get massive kudos and my eternal amazement. For them I forgive almost anything.)
i give what i expect to get back, a little compassion and understanding. if someone can criticize then they can help.
The Mother´s last blog post..Apples to Eyeballs
on June 3, 2009 at 11:02 am
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At least you don’t go around defacing 60 year old historical signs at Grand Canyon like Jeff Deck and Benjamin Herson. These 2 weirdos got themselves arrested and banned from national parks after they went around correcting signs which had grammatical errors.
hello again, ling. yes, they sure did get arrested. if finding typos is your gift, then go market your services and get paid to do it. otherwise wait in the wing until someone calls for you. there is bass in my voice, i’m sorry.
on June 3, 2009 at 11:39 am
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hi Valerie,
Steve, the typo-free trade show guru
I can’t believe people take the time to write a comment or send an email it they see a typo. Those people have too much free time.
I don’t mind if I notice one or two typos, though it there are many it bothers me a bit as it seems a bit sloppy…
I’m just glad I am purfect and don’t ever make any typos. That wood be so em-bare-ass-ing.
what’s up steve! i guess it depends on how many typos, but even then, i still will not email a person. i don’t care that much. if something is unreadable because of typos then i just won’t read it. no need to raise my blood pressure.
trade show guru´s last blog post..The Dirty Little Secret to Designing Great Trade Show Exhibits
on June 3, 2009 at 12:00 pm
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Way to go. I read my posts many times to check for typos, but I’d never correct someone else’s blog typos. Unless it’s a college paper, it probably not a huge deal. We’re humans, right?
i read and still miss stuff. my brain corrects and translates things so quickly, it’s on auto correct. it’s very forgiving, i guess.
on June 3, 2009 at 12:28 pm
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The only typos that I try to correct are my own. I don’t even try to correct my wife’s typos on her blog, though, on occasion, I try to make suggestions. Besides, who am I to talk — she gets tons more visitors and comments than I do.
While sometimes typos bother me, especially on “professional” blogs — or those that purport to be professional –, I just grin and bear it.
maybe i just don’t care to take on the problems of others. if you have a typo, that’s your problem. you deal with it. sounds mean, but i have enough on my plate. i will enjoy your post or article. thanks mike.
on June 3, 2009 at 1:31 pm
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It’s a mystery to me that everyone says people just SCAN online – they don’t actually read – yet everyone seems to notice typos.
some people read/scan with the left eye of scrutiny. they are ONLY looking for typos. some people have a gift and can spot them quickly, others just find fault.
on June 3, 2009 at 2:06 pm
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You have become a stealth blogger, Natural. I am shocked to see I’ve missed not one, but two posts. Although I haven’t been out and about and I haven’t opened my Google Reader in a very long time, so it’s not all that shocking after all.
Okay, so saying the word typo puts me on massive alert and I am now nervous to leave this, just like you were nervous to hit publish. I am a Nazi at my own place and I do notice typos out and about.
The one that just kills me is lose (I misplaced something) and loose (is flowing, is too large or is not contained as in loose change).
I have seen so many people write, “I am trying to loose weight” and it makes me die a little inside every time I see it.
And of course everyone hates it’s and its. I won’t even mention that one.
I do correct typos from my commenters. (I use commenters not commentators, another questionable one, but I’m standing firm on that.)
I just cannot let a typo lie untouched at my place. And I do read back over my own posts later and correct typos as well.
I did have a friend tell me I had a typo in one of my headlines and I was appreciative because she wasn’t being a jerk about it. But if you’re gonna make fun of me while pointing it out I’m gonna be pissed, you know?
well if you want pressure, i only expect excellence from you, a writing extraordinaire, oh okay and a few others, you know who you are, don’t you? i will stand on a stack of bibles and deny you even know the typo, but it happens.
you know to clean up the mess i leave on your blog. i don’t even mind it. i think one thing and type another. i hope i don’t make you loose your mind over at your place.
i like commenters too, but i have seen and used commentators in the past.
its time for me to go stalk your blog now, thanks fore visiting.
exactly: But if you’re gonna make fun of me while pointing it out I’m gonna be pissed, you know?
cardiogirl´s last blog post..Why is working with frozen bananas such a tricky bitch?
on June 3, 2009 at 2:26 pm
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well people have contacted me over the time randomly, over the comments and in private with an email. i generally fix the error/typo and thank the person that pointed it out. i was lucky not to have any aggressive reader so far. recently i don’t remember anybody contacting me about stuff like that…
well you have a good attitude about it. i will probably always fix a typo though if someone brings it to my attention. i shouldn’t be so high on the horse that i can’t take a little correction. just sometimes, i’m not in the mood.
stratosg´s last blog post..Member Of The Month: May
on June 3, 2009 at 4:05 pm
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i guess it also depends on the attitude of the reporter. i mean if he is playing God to you and being offensive then not being in the mood is not the problem
i have been fortunate in my blogging life to have readers and commenters that are really polite and nice to me…
you are right. now i have to mosey on over to your blog to see who you are. thanks for your participation.
stratosg´s last blog post..Member Of The Month: May
on June 3, 2009 at 8:30 pm
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Oh… lord… Typos
I do my damnedest to catch them but they still crop up!
I figure this is part of my growth as a writer/blogger and I accept them to a degree. However when someone finds a mistake I immediately make them an editor and give them log-in privileges. Shuts up someone critical and hopefully makes my blog better!
what’s up mike! typos do hide behind a tree and then jump out when you least expect it; even though you thought you looked both ways before crossing the street. i accept them to a degree too and because they keep following me.
well it’s something to work on….i like your idea, don’t be a part of the problem with your complaining, if you really care, offer help. and can i answer that question on your last post… bf wants to BORROW 4,000, what should i do? OMG! oh i haven’t read that post yet, i think i’ll have to read that one over a glass of liquor.
Mikethemasterdater´s last blog post..My boyfriend wants to borrow $4,000 dollars, should I do it?
on June 3, 2009 at 10:02 pm
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I really don’t mind being corrected, I welcome suggestions, I need them. I remember one post that had so many typos that I was embarrassed you read it, but you were so good about, I was impressed.
oh tondy, there’s my buddy. i’ve missed you!! i don’t even remember that post you’re referring to. most of the time, i will read around it, as long as it’s not the norm. what do you have a new url, hold the phone…. nice to see you sister.
Tondy´s last blog post..Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder
on June 4, 2009 at 7:18 am
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I’m not bothered much by typo errors, but there is nothing wrong with correcting them
In life, we do make mistakes sometimes, but nothing should prevent us from doing things to correct those mistakes and do better.
agreed. nothing wrong with correcting our mistakes, we should – just don’t be a critical, nitpicking, high on the horse, [!!!] about it. i have been reading my stuff over with more care – not in commenting, but in posting.
thanks for stopping by.
I TAKE OFF THE MASK´s last blog post..Bear Children Begotten of Love
on June 4, 2009 at 12:46 pm
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I’ve made typos and grammatical errors several times on my blog. I usually proofread after I write an entry and then recheck it once it has been posted. But for some reason, the occasionally error slips by.
I like how you ask readers to be forgiving of these little errors.
I don’t mind my errors or typos being pointed out to me. I will correct them and move on. If I notice an error though on someone else’s blog, I don’t usually pay much attention to it. That is, unless there are many blatant errors and it happens often. I don’t feel like I need to be a teacher or an editor while I am online. I may just choose not to visit a blog like that again.
We need to remember that most bloggers don’t have editors and be forgiving of the occasional slips.
Great message!
what’s up teach! oh i won’t even touch the grammar, but i can fix a typo. i rather a person pull me in the back and say hey, it looks like you’re having a tough time, is there anything i can do to help instead of telling me everything that’s wrong every darn time. i guess i feel that way about life too. is this post even about typos? i’m going to lie down on the couch now and suck my thumb. thanks for stopping by…hey, have you been watching jeopardy? this is probably my best week with ringing in correctly.
Chase March´s last blog post..Drug Mart Sign Confusion
on June 4, 2009 at 3:06 pm
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I love this post, I make typos all the time, my thoughts come out faster than I can type, shiznit happens.
There is the one particular blog reader of mine that he will lurk about, I see his face on mybloglog widget, and he stops by every day several times, but doesn’t comment. If I commit the offense of publishing a typo he pounces all over it, and leaves comments pointing out my blog flaws. He really erks the bajezus out of me!
I don’t tell people about their typos. I think it is rude and really unnecessary.
me too debo. i’ll work on it though…and it’s people like that lurker on your blog that get on my nerves. they just sit around waiting for you to make a mistake.
Debo Hobo´s last blog post..Thursday Theme-Clock: Made In The USA
on June 4, 2009 at 3:56 pm
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I am FOREVER making typos. And, I am a TERRIBLE speller! Sometimes I get annoyed when people correct me, and other times I find it helpful. I think it depends on MY mood that day.
I am totally super happy to find a new post by you! xoxoox
what’s up girlfriend. yeah i make a bunch of typos myself and i have to think sometimes when i spell, slows me down.
there’s another post coming and i’m almost afraid to post it. it is OFF. THE. WALL. but i had some “free time” at you know where. shhhh. maybe i’ll close the comments. oh dear. online what? oh i’ll be right over. update: your blog is blocked at you know where.
meleah rebeccah´s last blog post..Online Booty Call
on June 4, 2009 at 10:01 pm
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If it’s a typo in a comment, no biggie, but if it’s say in an About Me or another important static page, you bet your booty I’ll be e-mailing my buddy. They are happy to know.
Me? I revel in my typos. You may or may not now I have a whole series on my blog called “Like A Bord On A Wire,” a.k.a Jannie’s Funny Typos. When I hit about 300 (I estimate in a year or so,) I’m going to seek hard-copy publication. Whoo-hoo.
good point about the static pages, i wouldn’t mind that. i have found a few typos in my own. i guess that’s the other difference, if you’ve established a relationship with another blogger or they are your friend, sure send them an email..i still may not, but i wouldn’t mind if a FRIEND did
Jannie Funster´s last blog post..Another chance!
on June 4, 2009 at 10:03 pm
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…may or may not “know”… it should read up there, of course.
Gee, I guess typos do bug me too!
was there a typo or something, because i missed it. lol.
Jannie Funster´s last blog post..Another chance!
on June 4, 2009 at 10:04 pm
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Oh, gee, now I see you have that blog comment correction thing so I could’ve edited that first comment an none would’ve been the wiser.
yep i do and even with blogs that have the same plugin, i still make typos and then my time runs out.
Jannie Funster´s last blog post..Another chance!
on June 5, 2009 at 5:59 am
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my excuse is a very honest one- I just don’t care as much – trying to cram a lot of living into my day and rechecking myself is not part of it. I was an English and French teacher for 42 years- that’s all I did.Now blogging and writing is a small part of my day so I rush through and many times find typos. so it’s not the end of the world. I taught those young people- showed them the correct way – now it’s time for me to relax and not worry.No you don’t go back and count how many- I know they are there. I have 20 other things I want to do ..
i can’t say that i remember seeing a typo on your blog, but then again, it could’ve been in my face, smacking me around and i would’ve turned the other cheek.
sandy´s last blog post..It was nice of you to have a fire ready for us !!!
on June 5, 2009 at 9:04 am
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Hi Val – I must lead a sheltered life – I didn’t know people made a fuss about typos. I see them now and then on blogs and it wouldn’t occur to me to let the author know – I just assume it isn’t a huge deal to them – every blog/blogger is a bit different. I’d love it if anyone let me know about any mistakes on mine – but I only change typos on people’s comments if the meaning was wrong or not clear. -R
yeah people make a fuss, have discussion groups, and therapy sessions about it. i have cleaned up a few of the comments here, but like you said when the meaning is not clear, of course, fix it. sometimes i leave the typo.
Robin´s last blog post..Sondra Ray – Rebirthing And Physical Immortality
on June 5, 2009 at 2:12 pm
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In the interest of accuracy, I’ve replaced my “Enter” key with one that reads: “reveal typos”. I mean, that’s how it works now. I don’t see the danged things until I hit enter so it makes sense to me.
A common typo or two is ok, and it doesn’t bother me too much when reading other’s stuff. Flagrantly bad spelling will drive me and maybe I won’t be back but I’m not going to make a federal case out of it.
Nice post, and I recognize a lot of your commentators!
Cheers
George
hi george, well you’re a writer, you look at words all day..typos happen. i won’t sit around talking about you because you made a mistake or even several. i found you via barbara’s blog. i added you to my reader some time ago, i’m reading.
Tumblemoose´s last blog post..7 Things Editors at Children’s Book Publishers Wish Writers Knew
on June 5, 2009 at 2:58 pm
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I can tell you, as a copyeditor, typos do bother me (comes with the job), but I am even more bothered by people who make a huge deal over one or two little typos that are obviously slips of the wrist. I’ve made typos that I’ve caught later and changed (because I’m anal like that), but I don’t think less of ANY blogger who has one or two. But yeah. When the entire post is unreadable, it’s time to take a minute before hitting “publish.”
okay well you’re an editor and i expect excellence from you too.
i’ll try to clean up my act over at IDTs and feel free to sweep up behind me. 
JD at I Do Things´s last blog post..I Watched 5 Minutes of a Movie so you don’t have to
on June 8, 2009 at 1:22 pm
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Heeeeyyyy!! I think this post is about me! Humph!!!
not specifically about you, i know you read this blog, but i couldn’t help think of you. there are other people out there who despise and rant about the typo and even have typos in their rant. some of the typos are amusing and if nobody made them, then what would we laugh at, my jokes? i’m not spell checking this.
on June 9, 2009 at 11:32 am
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Typos are going to happened from time to time. I mean, were human and we sometimes don’t catch things. I’ve seen them on some of the most popular and celebrity-type blogs out there. However, I’m a terrible speller, so I do proofread my posts several times before publishing. I’ve even caught typos days after I’ve published and I will correct it. I’m anal-retentive, what can I tell ya?
yeah i go back and find errors of mine and i correct them. other times i have to wonder if i was drinking at the time. sometimes, i’m as dumb as a rock. one day i will have an editor and a chef.
Ron´s last blog post..Are Hickeys Back in Fashion?
on June 10, 2009 at 11:51 pm
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This post gave me a good laugh! Some people flip out about typos, especially in forums. I say if the (forum or blog) post has one or two, what’s the harm? Like you said, it’s a mistake and everybody makes them. For me, I proofread once by reading it aloud, saying each word usually prevents me from skipping over anything and catching any typo I may have let slip. I don’t think I’d fix a typo in a comment, but I suppose if it was one that really bothered me, I would.
hello and welcome. i have read some heated arguments about typos. very funny, but not. i enjoy a typo, especially when it’s funny. i think saying each word and checking it off helps me a lot, when i feel like checking it. thanks for visiting.
[rq=1443,0,blog][/rq]Think Before You Drink (bottled water)
on June 12, 2009 at 7:20 pm
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I’m guilty. Typographical errors bug the heck out of me. Even mine. I have let a blogger know that they have a typo. Funny thing about them, you see other people’s like a big red flag; but our own just seem to sneak by.
i make sooo many typos that i have to laugh at them sometimes. like what was i thinking or not thinking. i have other things to beat myself up about. i know it’s true. we see them on other people’s blog before ours. on our blog, they don’t exist or they show up after you walk away from the computer. any typos in this reply comment?
[rq=7256,0,blog][/rq]James Bond and James Bond
on June 16, 2009 at 9:56 pm
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Typos irritate me endlessly. Not so much when other people make them, but when I do. I proof read several times before I publish, but some get through anyway (I blame the booze). I like it when people point them out to me so that I can fix it and get on with my neurosis.
best comment: I like it when people point them out to me so that I can fix it and get on with my neurosis. LOL. you know you are and you’re down with it, i love it. ….get on with my neurosis. lol
Corrina´s last blog ..Hell To The Yes
on July 8, 2009 at 12:16 am
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It dosen’t matter if I find one or two typos in the post as much as the blog is a quality one, unless the whole post is typos which might lead me to understand it in a way that opposite to the original author’s opinion
Seriously, I discovered also that it seems we always find typos after publishing the post even if we made our best to avoid them by re-checking the post zillions of times before posting it
Simply, we are humans not spelling machines so I take it easy and enjoy!
hello again hicham. sometimes typos have a way of hiding especially when you’ve read it over a thousand times. another pair of eyes might help, but as long as the entire post or article is not full of typos, what’s the harm in overlooking a mistake. some things should be without error and i’m not even that important to be one of them.
Hicham´s last blog ..I hate everything about You!
on October 22, 2009 at 5:46 pm
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Hallo.
Everyone make mistakes. Only what we can to do with this is correct our typos, when we find somes. It’s not shame…
on October 26, 2009 at 9:17 pm
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As long as the post is readable, people should just live and let live. I hate when I make typos, but how much time, energy and anxiety should be expended in the pursuit of perfection? Makes me wonder what is wrong with those who get it just right every time.
I do thank God for spellchecker though. Though I think it is misused. It appears that is how there gets substituted for their, etc. Most poeple know the difference between the two words.
I guess all us mortals can do is just to beg forgiveness, just as you have. And then utter the phrase “GET A LIFE!!!”
Norman Rockwell Art´s last blog ..Oct 26, Norman Rockwell Museum: Making Vacations Memorable