NEWSLETTER
As a guy whose writing background – primarily the lawyer thing – has drilled into him the importance of proper grammar/spelling/punctuation/capitalization/etc. in all settings, I hope you’ve noticed that I do my best to honor that background. We all make mistakes, but, by and large, I believe that writing conventions exist because they provide for the clearest form of communication. And what’s the point of writing something if you’re going to be misunderstood?
So, you can only imagine how my heart swelled with professional affection when I read this, from the Tribune:
President Theo Epstein’s philosophy of running an organization may differ from other executives. At a recent meeting of the team’s scouts in Chicago, the scouts were reminded to be careful about punctuation and capitalization in their reports. It may seem like small potatoes, but the Cubs apparently believe in the credo of famed architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe: “God is in the details.”
If you think Theo is just being a curmudgeon, remember how important scouting reports are to the continued health of the organization. And, while a misplaced comma isn’t going to be the culprit behind a mistaken first round pick, it could cause confusion and delays, which build upon each other and result in problems down the road. I’m quite glad to know the Cubs are taking this stuff seriously – it reminds me that they are leaving no stone unturned in the quest to modernize, professionalize, and, ultimately, improve the organization.
Don’t forget:
