Number of words: 446 Nobel is not the only prominent figure whose premature death report precipitated a reaction of historical proportions. In early June of 1897, Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, was hiding away in London, still mourning the death of his eldest daughter, Susy, and working to make a dent in his … Read more

Number of words: 156 Today’s media puts a premium on the timely distribution of a well prepared obituary. To make this possible, news organizations archive (“can”) obituary files for use when someone notable passes on; they may even keep them current. A January 2006 report by Editor & Publisher said that the Associated Press alone … Read more

Number of words: 96 IN AN ARTICLE IS IT OK… to drink cow’s milk? (Ethical living,page 26, G2, June 6), two mistakes were introduced in the editing. Comments which were made by an unnamed former dairy worker, whose mother runs an animal sanctuary, were mistakenly attributed to Gordon Tweddle for which we apologise. We also … Read more

Number of words: 69 The Nov. 10 Broadsheet item “He or she?” indicated that two percent of every 1000 babies are born with ambiguous genitalia. This description was both confusing and incorrect. In fact, while it’s difficult to determine precisely how common intersexuality is, estimates range from one in 2,000 births to one in 4.500 … Read more

Number of words: 89 We gave an unlikely figure of 14m tonnes of snack food consumed during transmission of the Superbowl, which would be almost half a tonne for every American (What we’ve learned, page 28, February 1). We meant 14m kilograms. -Guardian (UK)There was a decimal slip in our Super Bowl snack food correction … Read more

Number of words: 42 Sunday’s Section A described the Illinois Senate race as close. A poll taken in mid-September showed Democratic candidate Barack Obama with a 51-percentage-point lead over Republican Alan Keyes. -Los Angeles Times Excerpted from page 128 of ‘Regret the Error’ by Craig Silverman

Number of words: 46 Language department, from page 7, January 24, where, referring to a mass burial site, we said, “In it were at least 150 bodies, interned in more than five layers…” That should be “interred.” -Guardian (UK) Excerpted from page 115 of ‘Regret the Error’ by Craig Silverman

Number of words: 56 In our report Russia’s big spenders flaunt their fortunes, page 23, October 28, we referred to the shopping sprees of “the hoards of rich”. As a reader writes, the Russian rich may have hoards of money, but collectively they move and shop in hordes. -Guardian (UK) Excerpted from page 113of ‘Regret … Read more

Number of words: 45 The man extolling the virtues of breast milk, mentioned in When is breast best?, page 9, G2, January 18, believed that it had given him remission from prostate cancer rather than prostrate cancer. -Guardian (UK) Excerpted from page 109 of ‘Regret the Error’ by Craig Silverman

Number of words: 55 Fulsome and fulsomely were again used in error in a complimentary sense. It means excessive or insincere in an offensive or distasteful way-Collins (Prayer Book Rebellion, page 14, G2, August 7, and Domenech’s quiet revolution is winning friends, page 2, Sport, July 8).         -Guardian (UK) Excerpted from page 108of ‘Regret the … Read more