Proofread everything.  Double check your work.  Check your punctuation and spelling.  Year in and year out, teachers try to help students grasp these concepts as they prepare for “the real world”. 

These steps are vital when conducting any form of business or communications, be it contracts, written submissions, and everything in between.

That’s why when I saw an article in The Globe and Mail this past week entitled “The $2-million comma”, I was immediately intrigued. 

As it turns out, Rogers Communications Inc., one of Canada’s largest cable and telecommunications entities, is embroiled in a battle with Aliant Inc. over the interpretation of their five-year agreement in the Maritimes.  Surprisingly, the conflict surrounds the inclusion of just one comma in the middle of a sentence.  This additional comma, as interpreted by Aliant Inc., gives them the right end the agreement at any time provided one-year notice is given.  Rogers’ interpretation is quite different, as they believe the agreement cannot be terminated within the first five years. 

So what are the ramifications?  The additional comma stands to cost Rogers Communications in excess of $2 million.

Reading this made me stop and wonder.  In an ever demanding world, do we take the necessary precautions to ensure that we avoid being subjected to the same embarrassment?