I am fascinated by a few of our readers who are quick to point out the newspaper's occasional spelling or grammar errors. I am fascinated for a couple of reasons.

First, knowing that folks read the paper so closely and see the errors we make is encouraging because we know we're being read!

Incidentally, I read several other newspapers, including the "big" ones, and see plenty of errors in those papers too, which is certainly not to excuse our own.

Furthermore, believe it or not, we do want to get it right and seeing our errors only causes us to become more determined to get it right.

Incidentally, one difference between our errors and those of so many others is that ours are open for so many pairs of eyes!

Second, I am reminded that an explanation of the newspaper's style of writing should be forthcoming from time to time.

Consider the newspaper's style of writing the abbreviations for the 50 states. The U.S. Post Office's abbreviations are NOT the ones used in the Associated Press Stylebook.

When one addresses an envelop to a person living in Arizona, he would use the abbreviation, "AZ." That is not, however, the style used by the Associated Press.

When referring to a city in Arizona in newspaper writing, according to the Associated Press Stylebook, one would write "Phoenix, Ariz.," not using "AZ."

Other abbreviations used by the Associated Press Stylebook include "Ala.," for Alabama, not "AL," "Ark.," for Arkansas, not "AR," "Calif.," for California, not "CA," and "Kan." for Kansas, not "KS."

Another interesting note about the newspaper's style of writing is how commas are used when writing the names of cities and states. One comma is placed between the city and the state name, and another comma after the state name, unless ending a sentence or indicating a dateline.

For example: "He was traveling from Nashville, Tenn., to Austin, Texas, en route to his home in Albuquerque, N.M. She said Cook County, Ill., was Mayor Daley's stronghold."

I am also fascinated when a person says he has stopped purchasing the newspaper because of the errors in it.

Using that kind of reasoning, one would stop driving! How many drivers make errors daily?

Using that kind of reasoning, one would stop shopping at Wal-Mart! I do not remember the times a cashier has rung up a wrong price.

Using that kind of reasoning, one would stop reading period. Why? Because, almost without exception, every newspaper and book has several errors.

Even the best movies have errors in them, so I guess one would have to stop watching movies as well.

Alas! We do make errors in the newspaper. Not only do we regret the errors we make, they often embarrass us. We do not take pleasure in goofing up and being embarrassed.

So, please continue bringing our errors to our attention. We will do our best to fix them. And, also, please continue being patient with us as we strive to get it right!

Jack Rollins is the managing editor of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.