An almost trivial but (to me) interesting one: I’d be a great proofreader, typos just jump out at me. This appears to be unusual; most people just mentally paper over any mispellings they encounter. (Random web page turned up by a Google search for affirmations of this principle.)
As a tiny test, did you immediately spot the (ETA: more subtle) typo I deliberately inserted in the above paragraph?
As a tiny test, did you immediately spot the typo I deliberately inserted in the above paragraph?
Hmph. I was seconds away from typing a snarky reply about it, but then you went and ruined my fun.
On a related note, I suspect that people are better at noticing typos in other people’s writing compared to their own, possibly because they know what their own writing is supposed to say and have it somewhat memorized. However, this is unfounded speculation and generalizing from one example.
On a related note, I suspect that people are better at noticing typos in other people’s writing compared to their own, possibly because they know what their own writing is supposed to say and have it somewhat memorized. However, this is unfounded speculation and generalizing from one example.
An almost trivial but (to me) interesting one: I’d be a great proofreader, typos just jump out at me. This appears to be unusual; most people just mentally paper over any mispellings they encounter. (Random web page turned up by a Google search for affirmations of this principle.)
As a tiny test, did you immediately spot the (ETA: more subtle) typo I deliberately inserted in the above paragraph?
Hmph. I was seconds away from typing a snarky reply about it, but then you went and ruined my fun.
On a related note, I suspect that people are better at noticing typos in other people’s writing compared to their own, possibly because they know what their own writing is supposed to say and have it somewhat memorized. However, this is unfounded speculation and generalizing from one example.
This is a recognized effect called the Proofreader Illusion.
If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t have, and even then I had to read through your comment word-by-word to find it.
Me too.
I didn’t consciously notice until you mentioned it, at which point my eyes focused directly on it.
It took me a couple of tries and some effort to find the typo.
I caught it as soon as I was looking for it, but not the first time.