typographical error
Americannoun
Usage
What is a typographical error? A typographical error is a mistake made when typing something. Typographical errors are very commonly called typos for short. The term typically refers to an unintentional error that happens when you accidentally hit the wrong key on a keyboard—the kind of mistake that autocorrect is supposed to catch and automatically fix when you’re typing a document or texting. For example, typing teh when you mean to type the is a common typographical error. Typographical errors often result in misspellings, but, technically, not all misspellings are typos. It wouldn’t be quite accurate to call a misspelling a typographical error if you spelled the word that way on purpose. Still, people often use the word this way, especially when politely pointing out misspellings in things that other people have typed. The term typographical error can also refer to an error made during the printing process, such as due to a mechanical issue, but this sense of the term is much less commonly usedExample: I should have proofread my proposal because as I was presenting it I noticed a typographical error right on the title slide.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Calling it a typographical error, Westheimer acknowledged, “Even big shot people like myself make mistakes.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 13, 2024
McDowell testified that it was a typographical error, and she meant to write that she was “dying” to testify against the officers.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 12, 2023
When asked for his memories of his time as a soldier it was not the battles that he served in which came to mind first, but an occasion when he made a "typographical error".
From BBC • Mar. 19, 2022
Because of a typographical error, President Biden was quoted as saying, “Vice President Harris is dead to me.”
From Washington Post • Jan. 6, 2022
On page 212, the word "latter" probably should have been "former" but this clearly was not a typographical error.
From Come Out of the Kitchen! A Romance by Miller, Alice Duer
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
