There has been a running commentary on this blog over many years that draws attention to my typos.
I am never going to deny that I publish my fair (maybe more than fair) share of typos. After the millions of words I have written, I still hit the wrong keys sometimes, especially when using an iPad (which I often do early in the morning and when moderating late in the day). And I am not good at seeing them. Like most of us, I see what I think I typed, not what I actually typed.
There is a trade-off here. I could reduce output and check more. I could also delay publication until someone else has read each post. But the sense of urgency that drives the blog would disappear as a result.
So, a quick poll:
Are the typos worth ignoring to get the posts out as soon as possible?
- Yes (54%, 299 Votes)
- I don't care: just keep writing (33%, 184 Votes)
- Maybe, but I wish you'd check a bit more (10%, 54 Votes)
- No (2%, 13 Votes)
- I don't know, but show me the results anyway (1%, 6 Votes)
Total Voters: 556
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I have voted yes, as long as you don’t mind if someone points out a typo that makes the blog hard to understand, or when it is, coincidentally, hilarious!
🙂
Exactly, as long as I can understand the piece, typos don’t concern me at all.
Thanks
The typos add to the conversation! We are moving into an era of AI. Typos are human, they are messy, they get us talking, and sometimes laughing. Long live the typos!
🙂
We’re stuffed if/when the AIs start doing typos themselves.
Trew (sic)
What can I say on this matter? The less the better; it would just be full of typtos …..
🙂
I make typos a lot too. Someone once told me that it is the sign of a mind that is more very settled and way more comfortable with the message than the exacting demands of grammar.
In the posts they are easy to skip round when reading a lengthy analysis.
But I would say some of your replies require a tad more checking, as they are often very brief and need to be accurate to convey your point. But I very much appreciate that time is not on your side there….
The last point is the problem
They are also very often written in grabbed moments on my phone or iPad
Vincent Richardson, What is the point of being “more comfortable with the message than the exacting demands of grammar”? The message that that sends to me is that you can’t be bothered to be sure your message will be understood or that you expect the recipient to do the work of ‘translating’ your message. Grammar matters!
Richard’s typos are usually trivial and not worth bothering with and he is happy to correct more important ones when they are pointed out. I read his posts first thing in the morning and appreciate the urgency with which they are written.
Thanks Robin
Robin Gardner,
Yes you are correct of course there, I should have said “typos” not “grammar”, my old School teacher would have said the same : ).
We all do it. Predictive correction often helps but all too frequently exacerbates or creates errors. Much as I’m more interested in the words than the format, I’d rather have the copy as soon as you are ready to release it (which can be corrected) than wait for it to be proof read. Some errors will always slip though anyway.
Thanks
That’s my feeling
I agree with Andrew above. There is a lot of dyslexia in my family -half-bother, cousin, two grandchildren and me, although I have learnt to deal with it to an extent, I also commit a number of typos. Dyslexic people tend to be creative and I hope, in my case, to capable of original thought.
What is impressive is that you don’t just give one blog per day but several and of a good quality. Keep going and your readership will work round it. It is what you say that is important.
Thanks
As a Telegraph crossword enthusiast I find it almost as enjoyable trying to decipher what you meant to type. I was for a while the editor of a small magazine and always assidiously proofread everything I write. That takes time which I have plenty of, but you don’t. I therefore voted “yes”. I particularly go along with Joanna’s comment. At least we know you are not a robot, Richard.
I’m pleased to know that I fail that test.
Strangely enough I never notice typos until pointed out to me. Probably with relief after ten years teaching English.
I am a bit worried about Ian Stevenson’s half-bother, though. Was that Freudian?
I too voted yes. That said, maybe you could be careful at least to check carefully the titles, which are the first (and sometimes no doubt the last!) thing everyone reads, especially on twitter.
Oddly – WordPress does not use a spellchecker on them, hence the error rate.
Point noted though
I wondered how long it would take you to see the deliberate mistake, Wilson.
I thought you were just practising your Doric.
Typos are a sign of enthusiasm and effort.
Perfect is nothing. Death.
I would say that 99% of your typos are easy to overlook.
Beethoven said:
“To play a wrong note is insignificant; to play without passion is inexcusable.”
I prefer your passion and concern over your typing abilities any day. And you’re still a damned good writer in my view, given your prodigious output.
I like Beethoven’s comment
A bit like typing all the right letters but not necessarily in the right order. As Eric Morcambe might have said.
Indeed
I am a speed reader and have realised that I identify the words by the out line and not the actual letters. This also means I do not say the words under my breath as I am reading. All this helps in speed reading, I can normally read 100 pages an hour, but of course I am oftern stumped when trying to write something. I bought my first computer, a BBC Micro because it had a spell checker.
When I wrote a daily article on tax for an internal audience, some people said they only read it to spot the typo. That didn’t matter; the point was that the article was read! I’m sure it’s the same with your output.
Keep on going!
🙂
I have a simple suggestion that could improve things markedly, at little effort.
The current system of reporting typos via having a reader or readers posting to the comments clutters them up, and it takes time until you see it and can respond.
It would be relativley (sp? 😉 ) simple to ask your IT guy to give each post a button for ‘submitting typo’ for that post.
simples, eh?
😉
Too confusing, I think
But thanks for pointing them out, as you do
I’m a fan of typos that make me laugh and have a 9 year-old grandson whose typos have passed into everyday family usage; like ‘octurnal – animals that only come out at 8pm’.
It’s bean shawn thet poeple heve no prablim raeding wirds loke thes so lang as thire ire sofficiant cansinents to act as ‘skelitins’ to give the carrict shepe.
So cerry on Richid. Its yuor massege thets impertint end thet elweys cumes thruohg.
Thanks
That must have taken ages…..
You’re not alone – my typos are of such a volume that could easily create a separate language. A journalist friend of mine once said in referring to Pittman’s shorthand that after 2 glasses of 14% red he could speak it….
🙂
On other platforms there is spell check which doesn’t always get it right. I’m always reminded of sending an email and copied in someone called Phasant and auto correct changed it to Peasant.
Fortunately he was on holiday and managed to recall the email and change it – but it did give his his colleagues much mirth.
I think the typos are speed bumps. Skimming through an article, when I come to a sentence that is superficially gibberish, I have to stop and concentrate to work out what the word should have been. Which must help increase the overall amount of attention I give to the piece.
Well, that’s an interesting perspective