mistype

Mistype refers to a typographical error that occurs during typing, producing text different from the writer's intention. As a noun, a mistype denotes the error itself; as a verb, to mistype means to produce such an error. The term is closely related to typo, but some use mistype to emphasize errors arising specifically from keyboard input rather than from spelling or word choice alone.

Common forms include transpositions (for example “teh” for “the”), substitutions where a neighboring key is pressed (word becoming “wrod”), insertions where an extra letter appears (speling → “spelling”?), deletions where a letter is dropped (“recieve” for “receive”), and repeated words or missing words. Mistypes often involve letters adjacent on the keyboard, fast typing, fatigue, or distractions, and can be amplified by multilingual keyboards or autocorrect.

In digital communication, mistypes can hinder readability and cause miscommunication if not corrected or understood in context. Many platforms provide spell-check or autocorrect to mitigate mistypes, and editors or word processors flag unlikely sequences. Users may backspace, retype, or rely on predictive text to reduce recurrence.

Prevention and handling tactics include proofreading, slowing down during composition, enabling spell-check and autocorrect, and practicing touch typing. For multilingual users, selecting an appropriate keyboard layout and enabling language-specific checks can also reduce mistypes.