typographical error

American  

noun

1. an error in printed or typewritten matter resulting from striking the improper key of a keyboard, from mechanical failure, or the like.

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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

Calling it a typographical error, Westheimer acknowledged, “Even big shot people like myself make mistakes.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 13, 2024

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

“We’re aware of this typographical error now,” Rodriguez said.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2022

Due to a typographical error, an obituary stated that Joseph McDonald was survived by his wife of 270 years.

From Washington Post • Dec. 9, 2021

Surely, then, the reading of the first folio is a mere typographical error, and peonied and lilied the most poetical and correct.

From Notes and Queries, No. 209, October 29 1853 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Geneologists, etc. by Various