Count it before you write it
— “1,568 files” was not a fact
Our own product title said “224 words × 7 colours = 1,568 files”. The product file was missing, so we built it. The real number was 1,554.
That number had never been counted by anyone.
Why 14 files matter
| What you assume | What is true |
|---|---|
| 14 is a rounding error | A wrong quantity is a misrepresentation under Japanese consumer law |
| We can fix it later | It is a non-refundable download. The buyer cannot go back |
| Someone will notice | Nothing errors. The storefront says nothing |
The fix: make counting part of the job
If you print a number, count that number by machine once. Count the items themselves, not the lines that contain them. If the plan and the output differ, change the title — not the truth.
A number is a stronger promise than you think. “Lots of files” is never checked. “1,568 files” is a checkable promise.
