How I Became a Nitpicker

I plead guilty to nitpicking. I was trained long ago in the Office of Revisor of Statutes at the Colorado State Capitol. The office lawyers worked on amendments, which had to be justified with existing law and proofread. If the legislature was in session, we had to be in the office, even late at night.

One of my jobs there was proofreading. Out loud, to another person. Including punctuation.

I guess that’s why a missing “close quote” will jump out at me. And other picky details.

But why is it that other writers’ typos are easier to notice than my own?

My kid sister Gloria, a retired junior high art teacher, is my biggest nitpicker. She circles mistakes in the newspaper, and also does crossword puzzles in ink.