I was looking at a particular lot on an auction house’s site, and came across these two sentences about the condition of the item:
Thistle Brooch: Highest amethyst flower with an inclusion that appears as a chip, but it is internal. Not apparent significant chips or abrasions present.
Wow. The top “amethyst flower” has an “internal inclusion” (but not a chip!), but there are chips or abrasions (significant ones!) present that aren’t apparent?
After some reflection, I wondered if what I was looking at was a typo, and the second sentence should have read: No apparent significant chips or abrasions present.
I called, questioned, and yes, it was a typo: there are no obvious significant chips or abrasions present.
One letter changed everything. A cautionary tale!
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