July 09, 2005

What a difference a comma makes

On July 2, The Economist said that insecticide-impregnated mosquito bednets "cut the risk of infants dying by 14%, to 63%." The truth (as explained in a correction on p. 19 of the July 9 edition) is that the risk is cut by 14% to 63%. Quite a difference. Don't underestimate commas.

Posted by Geoffrey K. Pullum at July 9, 2005 06:21 PM