Re: Paying for Typos

["Eric Haddock, Q.P." <eric -at- ENGAGENET -dot- COM>]

I wouldn't fixate too much on the price of the magazine--$6.95 sounds
like what I would expect to pay for something with low circulation in a
market where paper prices are continually rising. That by itself
shouldn't be too much of a beef--but the nature of the publication and
the amount of typos is another matter.

   A publication touting itself as an example should lead by example.
You know, people look to publications for guidance and to settle
disputes. When I needed to know whether RS-485 was RS485 or RS-485, I
looked to publications. Whether we intend it or not, we use examples to
lead us. Almost certainly you have defended your choice of grammatical
style by saying something like "that's how I've always seen it."
   If a magazine was trying to be an example I _would_ use it as a guide
if I couldn't find the answer in a reference book. Do you put a comma
before the "and" as in:  item, item, and item? Some do, some don't--but
if I want to get an idea of what the rest of the world was doing, I'd
probably check out this magazine.

   I'm certain to never use that magazine for any such purpose now. If
the proofreading is inferior to mass-market magazines editorially then
why should anyone expect the editorial style to be leading or
definitive?


--
Regards from beautiful Wisconsin! :)

  Me -> http://www2.pitnet.net/moonlion  mailto:moonlion -at- full-moon -dot- com
Work -> http://www.engagenet.com         mailto:eric -at- engagenet -dot- com

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