A typo, short for typographical error, is a mistake made during the typing process. It is a minor error in writing that often goes unnoticed until review.
These errors commonly result from haste, distraction, or 'fat-fingering'—hitting an adjacent key by mistake. While modern word processors and text editors include spell check and autocorrect features, these tools may not catch all typos, especially if the incorrect word is itself a valid word (e.g., 'there' instead of 'their').
Typos can lead to misunderstanding, confusion, or a reduction in the perceived professionalism of a document. Proofreading and careful editing are crucial steps to minimize their occurrence. Historically, typographical errors were more common with mechanical typewriters, where mistakes were harder to correct without retyping. Digital tools have simplified the correction process but have also introduced new forms of errors, such as those from aggressive autocorrect functions.
