Oikaista

Oikaista is a Finnish verb meaning "to straighten", "to correct" or "to rectify". It is commonly used in both literal and figurative senses: to straighten a physical object or route (for example, oikaista mutka — to shorten a turn), to correct an error or statement (oikaista virhe, oikaista väite) and to amend texts or editions (oikaistu painos — corrected edition).

Linguistically, oikaista is a type 1 verb (infinitive ending in -a/-ä) with standard Finnish conjugation: present oikaisen, past oikaisin, imperative oikaise and passive forms such as oikaistiin. The noun form oikaisu denotes an act of correction or rectification and appears in administrative and legal contexts, for example in the compound term oikaisuvaatimus (rectification request) and oikaisupäätös (rectification decision).

Etymologically the verb is related to the adjective oikea ("right, correct"), reflecting a semantic core of making something right or straight. Its usage spans everyday speech, journalism, publishing and official administration; in legal and bureaucratic settings oikaista and its derivatives refer specifically to procedural remedies for decisions or records that are considered incorrect.

Examples of typical uses include oikaista lasku (to correct an invoice), oikaista lausunto (to amend a statement) and oikaista reitti (to straighten or shorten a route). The term is neutral and functional, conveying the action of bringing something into a correct, straight or proper state.