We nitpick. We're compulsive. If we see someone make a mistake, we just have to tell them. We don't mean anything bad by it, really. We even think we're helping out.
Well, I'm a nitpicker. If someone uses its when they mean it's then I'm going to tell them so. (Technically, "them" should be "him" there, but there's a centuries-old practice of using "them" for the singular and "him" would seem to exclude women.) (Yes, I do nitpick myself.)
I've decided to make a virtue of compulsion, and create the Nitpicking
Home Page. I'm going to forego the overused "Men At Work" logos,
but like all Web pages, this one will constantly be developed, as I have
the time and energy available. If anyone finds a good nitpicking
site on the 'net, let me know (
Specific Nitpicks
First project: A book called Myth
Information: More than 590 popular misconceptions, fallacies, and
misbeliefs explained by j. allen varasdi [sic]. (Ballantine,
1989) This is the sort of book that's a natural for a nitpicker,
right? Lots of new facts we can know, in order to gain a moment of
satisfaction by showing up someone else. Unfortunately, it's full
of errors and misconceptions of its own. I present quick rebuttals
on specific points.