Typographical error

This article is about a typographical error. For the content management system, see Typo (content management system).

A typographical error, or typo, is a mistake made during the typing process. The term includes errors due to slips of the hand or finger, subconsciously typing a homophone, and also mechanical failure, but excludes errors of ignorance. However, it is common to find the word typo used as a euphemism to describe instances of poor spelling, punctuation or grammar. Typographical errors typically manifest in the form of an additional or missing character, or the switching of two characters.

When documenting typos, people will often include the phrase " [sic]" to indicate that an error was in the original quoted source and is not a transcription error.

Spell check

Spell checkers, while useful, are not perfect. This short line, containing no spelling errors but also no literal meaning, illustrates the point:

"Marry hat hey lid tell lam, ids fleas woes wide has know."

This example appeared in the comic strip FoxTrot. Read aloud, a common children's nursery rhyme is apparent.

Intentional errors

The emergence of Usenet and the World Wide Web as popular forms of mass-communication brought with it many people who are not skilled typists but have a lot to say. Typos are therefore common on Usenet and the Web, and some have found certain notoriety as in-jokes among Internet groups and subcultures.

"teh best thign evar!!1!one!1!!"

Users who are careless about their fast, emotional postings to Web forums have sometimes brought on some sardonic ridicule with similar "errors" by others in follow-up or stereotypical postings. The ridicule is not usually directed solely at the original poster's typing ability, but also their impatience and carelessness to contribute a meaningful posting. This has included:

• The misspelling of the as teh, combined with poor grammar and similar misspellings.
• The sardonic ridicule of users being so excited that they have failed to hold down the shift key long enough to type a consistent series of exclamation marks (resulting in a string of characters like "!!!11"). Such ridicule is usually exacted by the replacement of "1" characters with literal "one"'s in a similar string; e.g.: "OMG that is sooo interesting!!!1!one!"

This typo is the result of releasing the shift key while the 1 key ("shift" + "1" produces "!" on a QWERTY keyboard) is still pressed down.

Despite syntactical similarities, this form of intentional mis-typing is not directly related to leetspeak. The intentional replacement of choice characters in leetspeak usually has the intention of obfuscation rather than ridicule. This form of mis-typing is most directly related to the fictional character (pseudo) B1FF from the early days of Usenet.

"pwned"

A well-known term in the Internet gaming sub-culture is pwned. A popular theory of its etymology is that the close proximity of the O and P keys on a QWERTY keyboard caused the accidental typing — and subsequent publishing — of pwned instead of owned (a declaration of domination over an opponent) in a popular multi-player video game.

"Studnet"

A common internet typo for student. Netizens who use the word, whether intentionally or not, may receive humorous replies referencing a fictitious network of studs, of which a "Studnet ID" is highly regarded.

See also

• B1FF
• Errata
• Jeff K.
• Misspelling
• Cow-orker
• Thinko
• Typographical personification
• Typo fairy
• Touch typing

External links

• Keyword Typo Generator