Sure, I know that the writer is making a mistake, and I mentally can replace every 'silicon' with 'silicone'.
I also know that it would take approximately 10 seconds to look up the definition of the word (if they often get it wrong) and that if they aren't willing to spend 10 seconds to use the correct word, they are probably taking other shortcuts (in reasoning or research). This fact makes me less likely to accept their reporting and conclusions without corroborating evidence, because I trust them less.
Which is just saying what I said in my initial comment in a less succinct way.
> I also know that it would take approximately 10 seconds to look up the definition of the word (if they often get it wrong) and that if they aren't willing to spend 10 seconds to use the correct word
But how does one know to look up the definition of the word? How does anyone know whether they're using every word correctly, without obsessively verifying _every_ word? I'm pretty sure I'm using "obsessively" correctly, but I'm not sure if I've ever looked up "obsession".
Silicon/silicone seems more egregious to a technical crowd, but some of us will obsess over "click/clique," "decimate," "begs the questions," whatever.
>How does anyone know whether they're using every word correctly, without obsessively verifying _every_ word?
that's why once upon a time a published work went through multiple staff members, one of which had the very job you just explained.
now that the bar to publishing has been permanently lowered by technology and the current state of things writing quality has -- predictably -- declined.
I also know that it would take approximately 10 seconds to look up the definition of the word (if they often get it wrong) and that if they aren't willing to spend 10 seconds to use the correct word, they are probably taking other shortcuts (in reasoning or research). This fact makes me less likely to accept their reporting and conclusions without corroborating evidence, because I trust them less.
Which is just saying what I said in my initial comment in a less succinct way.