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A coworker prepared a fact sheet with details about the company and made copies for everyone in our workgroup to have handy by their desk. This was a revised version of one that she had passed out a week before.
Assuming that this was a document from Admin/Internal Communications (rather than our own Accounting workgroup) I commented lightheartedly about several typos that I noticed. She chimed in and said that she noticed a couple as well.
I later found out that she had prepared the document herself.
I was mortified.
Although I held a position as proofreader/technical editor for 18 years, I hardly ever mention typos that I notice, even in online forums, and I am particularly careful not to criticize others about typos IRL to their face. If I had known that she was the producer of the document there is NO WAY IN HELL that I would have mentioned typos to her.
I reached out and apologized profusely, adding that it didn't even matter anyway since it was for internal use only, and that if she ever wants anyone to proofread anything that I would be happy to do so. I also explained to her that I was in a job where all I did was proofread technical documents, so it's ingrained in me to never stop proofreading.
She accepted my apology and said that she was not offended.
I should have known that this was not the end of the story.
A week later I heard her relating the incident to another employee. She made it clear that she was offended and that she's still miffed about it.
I suppose the best thing for me to do is just be polite and cordial and try and live it down.
I see nothing wrong with your actions, including the apology. Forget it. You've done the sender a favor. One or two typos are forgivable. Several are carelessness.
You did what you could. You acted with the best of intentions, didn't have all the information but apologized anyway and even humbled yourself a little bit in the process. The fact that she's still miffed even though she said she wasn't is her problem to sort out on her own. Part of it is embarrassment at her own carelessness. She didn't proofread her own work even after revising it.
IMHO you don't need to do anything but let her get on with it.
This is coming from another admitted member of the Grammar Police.
Last edited by Parnassia; 12-23-2019 at 02:34 PM..
I needed to vent, and I realize that it would be inappropriate to vent about this to any of my coworkers. It would probably make things worse somehow. (I've only been in this position for two months.)
I am committed to avoiding any sort of office drama.
IMHO this is overkill. What are you "rewarding" her for? Not being truthful with you? Not accepting a sincere apology? Being careless? Complaining to coworkers? None of that is worth a free meal.
Just let it go. You didn't do anything wrong - she did.
Why do you feel the need to kiss her ass?
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