not teaching,
still THINKING …
One small change can make a big difference. As journalists, we want the difference to be a positive one. That’s why everyone needs an editor.
The following examples of published errors are worth repeating. The mistakes range from transposed numbers to wrong information from a source.
That’s how:
- Barrette appears as Barrett
- Tudy as Judy
- Spadora as Spadafora
That’s how:
- Koi fish appears as coy fish
- The date of an art exhibit is listed as Aug. 21 instead of the correct Aug. 12
- The date of a massacre during the French and Indian War appears as 1957 instead of 1757
Checking facts when we write is routine.
Checking changes that we make to another person’s writing is a must.
We all need an editor.
(These two profs are no longer teaching at Syracuse University’s Newhouse School, but we are still thinking.)