Typos are not just embarrassing but can lead to losses worth millions of dollars. Read on to find out more.
They say that to err is human, but many times these err can cost you very dearly. Even a single incorrect character can cause such damage that it would amaze you. Some of these expensive typos have caused unimaginable consequences on organizations, government and even individuals. So, let us learn the importance of grammar checks and read about these expensive typos that costed a bomb.
A billion-dollar mishap that costed 543 million dollars
A house in Utah had tax rolls with a staggering value of one billion dollars in the year 2019. Clearly, that was an overestimate of about 543 million dollars. According to a staff member, an employee accidentally created a typo which caused an overvaluation of six million dollars countrywide. This led to revenue shortages in five different County taxing entities.
NASA’s costly fault
During the cold war, when America and Russia were at loggerheads to establish their supremacy in every sphere. The space programs and launches were a good way to achieve that. So, in the year 1962, NASA planned to launch Mariner 1. This space probe cost around 18.5 million dollars which were meant to know more about Venus. But seconds before the launch, the probe started to go steer away from its said route. It was soon found that the reason for such a disaster could be a missing Hyphen or a decimal in the guidance code. Unfortunately, the probe was ordered to blow up just 293 seconds from the launch. This Costed NASA about 18.5 million dollars which are equivalent to 150 million dollars in today’s money.
Lucky lottery?
In the year 2005, Roswell Honda car dealership ran a promotion to attract potential customers. About 30,000 scratch cards were mailed to potential clients, and the grand prize was one thousand dollars. But as luck had it, someone from the marketing company made a mistake which made all the 30,000-cardholder winners. When people received their tickets, they all rushed to get the grand prize. Unable to fix the mistake, the company opted to pay afive-dollarWalmart gift card. How people responded to this treachery still remains a mystery.
So, that is why it is very important to proof check everything you send to your boss. Because no mistake is a small mistake!
