Honor Your Mother
Judy Beaver founded this holiday to honor her mother, by selecting to celebrate it on her mother’s birthday. According to Judy her mother Flo “loved to correct people.” This holiday has been in existence since 2011. It’s always celebrated March 8th.
Personal Experience
My Mom helped me “see” my spoken grammatical errors. I appreciate it now, though not so much then. While it made writing easier for me, errors are still made. Either we have forgotten or never grasped certain grammar rules. We now have tools on our phones and computers. It’s reassuring to know that, even as adults, we have resources to help us continue improving our grammar skills.
To Err Is Human
Most people have come across errors that proofreaders missed. These examples show that practicing proofreading can save money, time and sometimes, even imprisonment. As demonstrated by the second account, it’s still important to review and check our handwritten work. What follows are two that have been documented. And they are doozies. If you are aware of others, please enlighten us in the comments.
Royal Bible Printers – 1631
An unsuccessful Robert Blank had the royal patent to print bibles in England. Together with Martin Lucas they worked to correct typos from earlier editions. Unfortunately, they left out the ‘not’ on the commandment about adultery (Exodus 20:14). They printed what became known as the ‘wicked bible’ – Thou shalt commit adultery.
King Charles the First was furious. The 1,000 printed copies had to be tracked down and destroyed. Mr. Blake was forced to pay a fine and then was forced to do extra printing without payment. He lost all his money and was sent to debtor prison in 1635. He died there in 1643.
The Missing Hyphen – 1962
In our exploration of space, we had a setback in July of 1962. Mariner 1 was designed to be our first spacecraft to orbit Venus. Lift-off was successful. Nonetheless, the rocket quickly veered off course. There was danger of it crashing. Either into inhabited land or the shipping lanes in the Atlantic Ocean. Incapable of steering from the ground, they gave the command to destroy. It happened just 6 seconds before separation, when it would have been impossible to do so. A major cause was found in the software code. A guidance equation was missing a hyphen. Further investigation discovered it had been missing from the handwritten code.
Proofing For Better Communication
We all need to hone our proofreading skills. The number of people who rely on written communication each day has never been higher. Everyone is using email, texting, or creating copy for social media daily.
Texting especially can create some crazy words. I swear it sometimes changes what I’ve typed. I have fat finger syndrome too. I try to proofread everything I text. If I don’t, I often cringe after it’s sent. Have you caught AI changing words too? If so, proofreading is still an essential skill we all need to develop.
And don’t forget to proofread if you’re preparing a written note. It’s fun to get and send cards. Even printed greeting cards are more fun to read with a line or two from you. Don’t worry about adding a word or punctuation. Clear communication matters most. Practicing proofreading consistently makes it easier over time.
Final Thoughts
Think of someone who has helped you proofread in the past. Now is the time to thank them. Express your gratitude in writing—whether by email, text, or happy mail. Let them know about this holiday and how much you appreciate their guidance. Whatever method you use, MAKE SURE YOU PROOFREAD.
Paper Crafted Bliss 