Who Is Matt, and Why Does He Need to Be Wiped Down?

I was at the gym when I noticed a sign next to a bottle of cleaning solution.

The sign read: "PLEASE WIPE DOWN MATTS AFTER EACH USE THANK YOU"

I had questions.

Who is Matt? Why does he need to be wiped down? And perhaps most importantly, how many Matts are using this gym?

Of course, the sign was referring to exercise mats, not people named Matt. But one extra letter completely changed how I read the message.

And because I'm a law professor who sees bar exam lessons in just about everything, I couldn't help thinking about the importance of proofreading.

One Small Mistake Can Make a Big Difference

On the bar exam, students spend considerable time learning substantive law, practicing multiple-choice questions, and developing their analytical skills.

But sometimes, it's the little things that cause problems.

A missing "not" can reverse the meaning of a sentence. An incorrect party name can confuse the reader. A poorly worded rule statement can make an otherwise sound analysis difficult to follow.

And unlike the gym sign, where everyone can probably figure out the intended message, a writing mistake on the bar exam might create genuine confusion.

Proofreading Is More Than Checking Spelling

Proofreading isn't just about catching typos. It's about making sure your writing communicates what you intend.

Before submitting an essay or performance test, take a moment to reread your work. Are your conclusions clear? Did you accurately state the governing rules? Does your analysis actually follow what you included in your rule section?

You don't need perfect prose to pass the bar exam. But you do need writing that allows the grader to recognize your legal knowledge and reasoning.

The gym sign still gets its message across, despite the extra T.

But it also serves as a reminder that what we write and what our readers understand aren't always the same thing.

So proofread your work.