typefout

Typefout is a Dutch term for a typographical error, a mistake introduced during typing that affects written text. In English, the common term is typo. Typefouten can include misspellings, incorrect capitalization, misplaced punctuation, extra or missing spaces, or scrambled characters.

Origin and usage: The word is a compound of type and fout (error) in Dutch, and it is widely used in journalism, publishing, and computing to describe small mistakes that arise during the act of typing rather than from authorial intent. The concept applies across languages to various forms of written input and data entry.

Common types of typefouten include misspellings such as teh for the, transpositions where adjacent letters swap, incorrect punctuation, spacing errors like double spaces or missing spaces around punctuation, and character substitutions caused by keyboard mistakes or related input methods. Similar issues can occur in OCR processes or voice-to-text input, though those are technically distinct categories.

Causes and detection: Typefouten arise from speed, fatigue, unfamiliar keyboard layouts, autocorrect features, or errors introduced during data entry. Detection relies on proofreading, spell and grammar checking, and adherence to style guides, as well as automated tools integrated into word processors, content management systems, and development pipelines. Human review remains important for context, nuance, and domain-specific accuracy.

Impact and relevance: Typefouten can reduce readability, undermine perceived quality, and complicate search indexing, data integrity, and localization efforts. In professional publishing and software development, they are typically addressed through editorial processes, quality assurance, and version-controlled workflows.