And I don't know what an overbar is, let alone how to use one! Now I know what you're thinking: I'm emailing my boss, not writing an algorithm for NASA. In addition to the monetary cost, NASA's failure damaged the organization's credibility, and the world was forced to wait a bit longer for up-close pictures of Venus. The cost of this typo, when adjusted for inflation, has been estimated to be around $150 million. Despite the seemingly small size of the overbar, its inclusion in the guidance system's algorithm was essential. In 1962, shortly following its launch, Mariner 1 was destroyed when a mistake in its guidance system's algorithm sent the rocket off course-and directly toward North Atlantic shipping lanes.Īfter Mariner 1's crash, the cause of the faulty algorithm was determined to be a missing overbar, which is a line placed over text. (Mariner 1 was a probe constructed by NASA to take photos of and gather data from Venus.) The world's most expensive typo is generally considered to be a mistake in Mariner 1's guidance system. "History has shown that the destructive potential of a single incorrect character can be staggering."ĭon't believe Fennell? Below are examples of typos, punctuation errors, and misspellings that have had catastrophic effects on individuals, organizations, and governments. Typos and grammar errors can damage your reputation or even cost you your job.Ĭameron Fennell, a fellow proofreader and copy editor, agrees that typos can be disastrous: Well, that approach might come back to haunt you. Surely a typo here and there doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, right? Have you ever submitted a business proposal or sent an email without proofreading it?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |