# "Calling all competent editors, competent editors do you read me?"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-competent-editors-competent-editors-do-you-read-me/154095>\
**Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\
**Created:** [February 10, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-competent-editors-competent-editors-do-you-read-me/154095 "2003-02-10T14:13:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\
**Post date:** [February 10, 2003, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-competent-editors-competent-editors-do-you-read-me/154095/1 "2003-02-10T14:13:47Z")

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Mr. Zotti, (or others with column editing capabilities):

Re: [Lunar Dust](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_159a.html)

The last line seems to be missing a word (since 1981??!! :eek: )

> [@](#):
>
> Sounds like the only that would change his mind is a miracle.

Just givin’ you a heads up.

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**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2003, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/calling-all-competent-editors-competent-editors-do-you-read-me/154095/2 "2003-02-11T20:12:33Z")

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This column appears on page 159 of _The Straight Dope_, published in 1984. There, the two sentences read:

> [@](#):
>
> None of this will make the slightest difference to your friend, of course. Creationists have a powerful affection for the ridiculous.

In the online version, this is rendered as:

> [@](#):
>
> Don’t expect this to convince your friend. Sounds like the only that would change his mind is a miracle.

Moreover, in the book, _sank in_ is italicized.

I will let someone else deconstruct the significance of the textual differences. However, I will note that, once again, this highlights the critical importance of having copies of each of Cecil’s books, in order to fully appreciate his writing.