Dialogue

The omission of a single letter can transform meaning, and even the best spell-checking software cannot replace careful proofread-ing. If you are not convinced, read the title of this article again. Another incon-trovertible fact is that human beings make mistakes. Those two facts probably explain the development and continued existence of technical editing, which comprises an array of activities designed to increase the consistency, accuracy, and usefulness of written material. However, the obvious effects of editing, or of the lack of it, might explain why it has been so little studied. Most people simply assume that technica