Precision vs. accuracy | Seth’s Weblog

Precision requires producing the identical outcomes every time. Repeatable, measurable, reliable.

Accuracy means hitting the goal.

The one strategy to constantly be correct is to be exact.

However there are many precision strategies that don’t yield probably the most desired outcomes.

Simon Winchester’s ebook on precision is magnificent. As we enter a brand new age of automation, understanding the thrills and prices of earlier revolutions provides a helpful perspective.

And also you’ll study the one that invented shoe sizes in addition to the time Queen Victoria hit a bullseye with a rifle.

The world we reside in is latest, and was created by a revolution in precision. We’re nonetheless engaged on accuracy.

February 2, 2026