to escape or to have escaped

[tianhang]

My dear teachers, every time I read your answer posts, I am toched. How great you are.
Now your help is appreciated here again.
I came across such a sentence:
In preparing the handbook, tha author can not hope to have escaped the sin of omission .
What does this sentence mean?
If I change the sentence into the following one, is there any difference between them?
In preparing the handbook, tha author can not hope to escape the sin of omission.
Thanks a lot. I am waiting for your answers in China.

[Rover_KE]

It means the author may have missed something out.

Your alteration does not improve the sentence.

Rover

[5jj]

1. In preparing the handbook, the author can not hope to have escaped the sin of omission .
S/he recognises the futility of her hope that s/he did not leave out anything while she was writing.

2. In preparing the handbook, the author can not hope to escape the sin of omission.
S/he recognises the futility of her hope that she is not leaving out anything while she is writing.

[tianhang]

It means the author may have missed something out.

Your alteration does not improve the sentence.

Rover

Thanks. But I still think there are some differences between the two sentences.

[tianhang]

1. In preparing the handbook, the author can not hope to have escaped the sin of omission .
S/he recognises the futility of her hope that s/he did not leave out anything while she was writing.

2. In preparing the handbook, the author can not hope to escape the sin of omission.
S/he recognises the futility of her hope that she is not leaving out anything while she is writing.

Sorry, I made a spelling mistake. I can't agree you more. That is how I understand the differences between them too.

[5jj]

Thanks. But I still think there are some differences between the two sentences.

As I pointed out in my earlier post. However, in practical terms, there is no significant difference.

In any case, both have a distinctly old-fashioned ring.