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#Typo examples professional#
That's why it's important to minimize their frequency and damage by enlisting the help of a professional editor or proofreader to check your grammar, punctuation, and spelling. They happen to everyone eventually, and they can be embarrassing or even expensive. Though it is unclear what effect the spelling error had on Bush's failed 1992 presidential campaign or Quayle's short-lived presidential bid in 1999, Quayle did describe misspelling the word as "a defining moment of the worst imaginable kind."Įven presidents and vice presidents aren't immune to the effects of typos and grammar errors, which are hard to live down. Nonetheless, the damage to his reputation had been done, and he probably still wishes a proofreader had participated in preparing that "potatoe" card. Criticism came from both his political opponents, who wanted to discredit him, and his allies, who called for his replacement.įor his part, Quayle claimed that the word was spelled incorrectly on his cue card. The media soon learned of the spelling error, and Quayle was widely mocked. When a participant spelled the word "potato," Quayle announced that the word was misspelled, suggesting the alternate spelling of "potatoe." Bush for re-election, Quayle helped moderate a spelling bee. In 1992, while serving as vice president and campaigning with George H.W.
However, it did greatly damage his reputation-something that no mountain of money can replace. Unlike the previous examples, this error did not cost Quayle anything in terms of dollars and cents. US Vice President Dan Quayle, who served from 1989 to 1993, also experienced the destructive power of a typo. The spelling error that destroyed a reputation Though this error was costly for the government, fruit merchants were no doubt thankful for the unnecessary comma. When adjusted for inflation, it is estimated that the comma cost the US government about $40 million. However, simply removing the comma would also fix the error "fruit" would then act as an adjective, describing "plants": "fruit plants." What was intended by the government, however, was that plants for growing fruit were exempt.Īccording to the punctuation conventions of the time, there should have been a hyphen between "fruit" and "plants," like this: "fruit-plants." Merchants (correctly) interpreted this to mean that all fruit and plants should not be taxed. The tariff act stated that "fruit, plants" were tax exempt. However, due to a punctuation error, fruit imports were deemed tax exempt for a short period. One of the items meant to be taxed was fruit.
#Typo examples full#
History is full of examples of expensive typos.įor this error, we have to go all the way back to 1872, when the US government began placing tariffs on imports to boost its revenues. Yet the fact remains that typos create inaccuracy and misunderstandings, both of which can have monetary consequences and damage your reputation. Granted, it's unlikely any typo you make will have a $150 million price tag.
#Typo examples how to#
And I don't know what an overbar is, let alone how to use one! Now I know what you're thinking: I'm emailing my boss, not writing an algorithm for NASA. In addition to the monetary cost, NASA's failure damaged the organization's credibility, and the world was forced to wait a bit longer for up-close pictures of Venus. The cost of this typo, when adjusted for inflation, has been estimated to be around $150 million. Despite the seemingly small size of the overbar, its inclusion in the guidance system's algorithm was essential. In 1962, shortly following its launch, Mariner 1 was destroyed when a mistake in its guidance system's algorithm sent the rocket off course-and directly toward North Atlantic shipping lanes.Īfter Mariner 1's crash, the cause of the faulty algorithm was determined to be a missing overbar, which is a line placed over text. (Mariner 1 was a probe constructed by NASA to take photos of and gather data from Venus.) The world's most expensive typo is generally considered to be a mistake in Mariner 1's guidance system. "History has shown that the destructive potential of a single incorrect character can be staggering."ĭon't believe Fennell? Below are examples of typos, punctuation errors, and misspellings that have had catastrophic effects on individuals, organizations, and governments. Typos and grammar errors can damage your reputation or even cost you your job.Ĭameron Fennell, a fellow proofreader and copy editor, agrees that typos can be disastrous: Well, that approach might come back to haunt you. Surely a typo here and there doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, right? Have you ever submitted a business proposal or sent an email without proofreading it?
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