Errors In Typing And So On

 

Oops!!! And then something like that may happen more often than expected. When I sat browsing one of my own previously published books, I found a couple of spellings or typing errors on the first page. Not liking what I saw and which I couldn't do anything about, I made an effort not to focus on those misprints, but I couldn't quite quench my embarrassment at seeing them. Luckily enough, they were not as misleading as the (above) error in The Sentinel, but I didn't like to see them as they were the embarrassing proofs that I hadn't been thorough enough in my proofreading.

Not being "born yesterday" I've experienced the days when there were no computers. Errors were even more annoying at that time, as one had to correct them on what may be several copies. The means of doing so was a sort of white correction fluid, which, as far as I remember, was called "Tipp-Ex" or something like that. Very useful, but tiresome, and not always doing what it was supposed to do, namely obliterating errors in spelling or writing. What was wanted was to make those kinds of blemished go away, to disappear, becoming non-existing proofs of failures as a typist. (Many times in life, one might look in vain for something like this "Tipp-Ex" to blot out errors of all kinds).

Oops, the day of the computer has arrived which means that now the errors are different, substantial and manifold in nature. No "Tipp-Ex" will be needed as it will make no difference. "Delete" will have to do the job, and I must say, that most often it does a good job of it, but not if it's up against one's trigger finger which somehow is connected to the "blind spot" in one's eye.
 

Yes, that's the new hazard: Someone is looking for errors that might as well be overlooked and forgotten. It's like setting out to catch a criminal or just pretending not to see what he/she has done. Or "don't rock the boat, if you don't appreciate being sent headlong into the filthy water". I don't think it's possible not to make errors in life, typings or not, but I shall not go hunting for them if they aren't of vital interest or impact. The Sentinel error I do find to belong in that category, but not a reasonably non-misleading spelling error, so no more hysterics over that kind of mishaps in my publishing.