# Tell your boss she misspelled the higher-up's name? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 4, 2001, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852 "2001-12-04T16:56:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/1 "2001-12-04T16:56:53Z")
Just now I got an E-mail from my supervisor the VP sent out to everyone on the team marked “for your review.” I found the head of the team’s name was spelled wrong. I started to reply to let her know about it. Then I canceled it. Then I started to reply again. Then I canceled it again. On the one hand, she might be glad to be alerted to fix a mistake before the higher-up saw it. On the other hand, my gut feeling is it’s very risky to correct one’s supervisor. What would you do? ---
**Author:** ![Gundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Gundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gundy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/2 "2001-12-04T17:01:50Z")
I’d do it. But I think it depends on your supervisor - what’s your experience with her like? How does she accept criticism? If she’s not one to take it well, then let someone else do it. Of course, if I misspelled my higher-up’s name, I’d certainly want to know, wouldn’t you? ---
**Author:** ![Billdo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/billdo/32/315_2.png) [@Billdo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Billdo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/3 "2001-12-04T17:02:17Z")
Tell your boss! (I’d probably stop by your boss’s office or call, rather than e-mail). It’s a lot better to get corrected by someone you asked to review a document rather that by your superior. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/4 "2001-12-04T17:04:34Z")
I’d write something like, “I just wanted to send you a quick heads-up – X’s name was misspelled in your last e-mail. I’m sure it was just a typo, but I thought you’d like to know – I know you wouldn’t like it if I accidentally misspelled your name!” A regular typo, I wouldn’t correct, but names are different. ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/5 "2001-12-04T17:15:02Z")
I would go talk to my boss in person and point out the error. That way they can see that you’re not trying to be a smart ass or make them look/feel stupid. I have a really good relationship with my boss though and he would appreciate me pointing out the error to him. If you think your boss would get pissed I wouldn’t do anything about it. ---
**Author:** ![Hyperelastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Hyperelastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hyperelastic)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/6 "2001-12-04T20:07:57Z")
I’m often asked to review or co-author documents, and my rule is this: If I am not credited, or credited only as a “Reviewed by:”, then I only correct errors of substance. People can write, “Plase you’re finger on the Enter key and let it remane their for 6 seconds”; as long as the logic is correct, I don’t care. But if I’m listed as a co-author, then I correct everything that looks wrong. I don’t pay any attention to whether the author ranks higher or lower than me. So in your case, I would counsel that you not mention the error. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/7 "2001-12-04T20:17:37Z")
I would mention it. Obviously, your supervisor wants you to review the document for a reason. The reason is he or she wants help not looking like a moron. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/8 "2001-12-04T20:18:55Z")
I would not correct the error. You never know how people will react to this. Sometimes it can be BAD. I guess it does depend on your relationship with your boss, though. If you _really_ think she’ll appreciate the heads up, then go ahead. But if you suspect (as I think you do) that she might be offended - don’t bother. I mean, who needs the grief? Let someone who is more familiar with this supervisor tell her about the spelling error. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/9 "2001-12-04T20:41:51Z")
Was the it the typo kind, or the actual mistake kind? If she typed John Smxth, I think that’s a typo, and it’s better to assume she also saw the mistake, so no need to mention it. However, if she is calling him John Smyth, and you know FOR A FACT that he spells his name Smith, then it would be appropriate (IMHO) to point this out to her so she doesn’t continue to write Mr. Smyth in perpetuity. I think **Scarlett’s** suggestion is the tactful way to bring it up. Oh, and as **Scarlett** suggested, use the word “typo” when talking to your boss, even if you personally think it is more of a “heinous error.” ---
**Author:** ![zut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zut/32/2875_2.png) [@zut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zut)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/10 "2001-12-04T21:26:14Z")
The email was marked “for your review”, right? If I got an email in a work setting marked “for your review”, I’d assume I was supposed to check it for errors. Misspelled name = error. So, yeah, point it out. **Jomo Mojo** , why do you feel that it’s “risky to correct one’s supervisor” when she’s _asking_ you for your input? Is there something I’m missing here? ---
**Author:** ![Purd\_Werfect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47c2d/32.png) [@Purd\_Werfect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Purd_Werfect)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/11 "2001-12-04T21:43:25Z")
I’ve always been under the impression that your longevity in a position is partly made possible by helping your boss to look good. I would just point it out to the boss politely. If something like that made the boss feel stupid, then the boss is wee bit too insecure. Mistakes happen. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2001, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/12 "2001-12-04T22:28:22Z")
I’m really confused about why you _wouldn’t_ the correction, when the whole point was to get your feedback. What’s so tough about saying “It looks good. Only thing I noticed was that you spelled Andsdfnsn Wysyshsneynsnsy’s name wrong.” ---
**Author:** ![Etaoin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Etaoin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Etaoin)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/13 "2001-12-05T05:57:53Z")
And your boss could be testing \*you[/]. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2001, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-your-boss-she-misspelled-the-higher-ups-name/96852/14 "2001-12-05T06:24:43Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jomo Mojo \* > \*\*Just now I got an E-mail from my supervisor the VP sent out to everyone on the team marked “for your review”. \*\* Since it is marked “for your review”, I would let the boss know. However my answer may be biased because I was an executive assistant and it was my job to help my boss look good.