"One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" was the quote that Neil Armstrong spoke in 1969 when he planted his foot on the moon.  Or, did he?  Armstrong has been criticized for years by historians for his lack of good grammar at such a momentous event.  Well, he always claimed that he made the statement as follows: 

"One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."  To say "a man" is far better, of course.  It makes sense.  Well, the instant replay of science has possibly proven Armstrong correct in his recollection and grammar.

What are the ramifications of rewriting history by instant replay?  Truth is that we never quite have the picture complete, even with our science and technology.  There is always more to learn.  I think historians might have done well to assume the best, but the recordings I have heard as a child did not indicate "a" in his famous statement.  In fact, no one seemed to care as far as I recalled. (I was in diapers of course).  Grammar or not, we all understand what he meant to say.

Does grammar change history?’

HT:  Wired.com – It Is ‘One Small Step for a Man’

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