TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:How many errors are ok? From:Marilynne Smith <m -dot- smith182 -at- GENIE -dot- GEIS -dot- COM> Date:Fri, 24 Jun 1994 06:28:00 UTC
In my opinion, no errors are acceptable.
However, in the real world of deadlines, cost controls, and general
overwork, I try fix as many errors as I can. If the error is embarrassing
to my company, I would stop the presses. If I misspelled *a* word or left
out *a* comma, and I would have to pay a fee to fix it, I'd leave it in. If
the price is wrong, I would shoot myself rather than let it go out. (I do
proposals.)
Proposals have a drop dead due date (that is, if you don't get it in by
XX o'clock, it isn't accepted). When the time for working on a proposal is
up, I send it out and hope that I'm good enough not to have left an error.
(hope is not certainty)
When I was writing books, I cleared the tiniest of errors. It's a matter of
pride.
