I noticed a couple of Twitter friends lamenting their inability to spell certain words on the first go. This led to a question from me with hashtag in place, and the ensuing conversation became what someone called a therapy session for copy editors, a chance to come clean with our imperfections.
I put the question out there, “What are some typos your fingers make that your brain knows are wrong?” I wasn’t asking for hard-to-spell words that come back to haunt us, but the words we immediately know we’ve messed up because we’ve momentarily lost control of our fingers.
“Teh,” is a common one, so common that I’m told it’s become gamer slang. There is “fo” instead of “of;” “Firday” for “Friday” — those I expected. What I found most interesting was the number of people who misspell their own names. “Ay” instead of “Amy.” “Jiame” instead of “Jaime.”
Regina White said she finds herself typing Regina Whtie (“Oh to be McGillicuddy!”). Stan Carey said he writes “Stab” or “Stabn” a few times a week.
“Sadly, my name,” said Anne Stibor. “‘Anen’ instead of ‘Anne’ (According to my fingers, my name is now A-n-e-n-delete-delete-n-e’).”
I was scratching my head over this, but at least twice since then I’ve had to correct “Makr” at the bottom of an e-mail.
“My name unfortunately comes out ‘Lousie’ if I am not careful,” said Louise Julig on Facebook. “Not a good thing.”
Carol Terry said “Despite many years typing Carol, my fingers like to sign off as Carpl.”
Lori Burwash sometimes types “Loir.” (“For the French version of ‘Lori,’ I guess.”)
“I always type LAura — like I’m shouting the first part of my name at them,” offered Laura Lampe.
“My spell check always kicks in after I sign off as Luara,” said Laura Barrett.
I often misspell my name, Ricahrd–I mean Richard,” said “Annoyed Richard.”
“I often type an j at the end of my name instead of an h,” said Sarah Sammis.
“Krisitn. I’d never be a Krisi,” said Kristin Thiel.
Some people have the opposite problem. “Any word that starts ‘da’ ends up as my name,” said a teacher who goes by “Lady Strathconn.” Robin Cooke reported: “I often add “e” to the end of “cook.”
“Sometimes I accidentally type ‘Merry Christina’ instead of ‘Merry Christmas’ because I’m so used to typing my name,” said Christina Galoozis.
“Many times I have mistyped Jesus for Jevon or vice versa. I start w/ J-e- then… who knows?” said Jevon Bolden.
“It’s impossible for me to type the word “witch” b/c my last name is Witschey. I always want to add the “s!” said Erin Witschey.
Some others:
“I always type studnets instead of students, and teachnology instead of technology,” said teacher JoAnna Cobb on Facebook.
Bottome. Don’t know why, fingers always want to add an e to the end. @briannepruitt
Gaurd instead of guard. @copyeditqueen
I have you instead of your and of instead of off. @BarbInNebraska
“Shittle” for “shuttle.” @andybechtel
I’m a Victorianist and usually type “Vicotrian” in drafts. Also “autsim.” @dvlock
My recurring typo is written. I add a swirly “e” on the ends of words, like “frome.” @BethanyEdits
In handwritting, I often combo words w/out realizing. Ex: “other hand” becomes “othand.” @KristinWithPen
I type “withe” for “with the.” @DiedofEnnui
I almost always write “Forth Worth” for the Texas city. @mattbramanti
“Paragragh” and “reccommend” @JessicaBCI
Phiadeplahia. No, wait. Phiadeplahiua. No. Phialadelphia. Phialdeplhia. Phiadelphia. See? It has a keyboard aversion. @OrangeXW
I’m an architect, and I usually type “construtcion” and “buidling.” Every single day. My CAD program doesn’t autocorrect. @michellegerner
“Bulleting” for “bulletin,” 90% of the times I try for “bulletin.” @OrangeXW
“bothe” is my most common in that department. @stevebwriter
univeristy – every. single. time. @virtuallori
“Now” for “not” and vice versa. a dangerous one.” @lburwash
I regularly type “pateint” when I mean “patient,” and I often misspell my name. @GrammarGirl
I’m embarrassed to say I often leave an “r” out of embarrassed. _steve_hall
recently i’ve been typing “magnate” instead of “magnet” which makes me look like an idiot. @elizabethonline
My most common is probably “think” for “thing.” I do that ALL the time! And “Bethesday” for “Bethesda.” @ErinRagan
Even though I don’t eat red meat, I often mistakenly type “misteak.” @RoxanneCooke
Most common typo is acitivities instead of activities. On iPhone most common is -ig instead of -ing. Drives me nuts @JackieDaly
For some reason, whenever I go to type Phoenix, it comes out Phoebix. I used to have a car I called Phoebe. Type memory. @StaplingJello
Semis for apostrophes? Won;t, isn;t … @LauraSBarrett
I type the word media a lot (Culinary Media Network), I sometimes type Medea instead. VERY different! @ChefMark
Jospeh. @jane_bos
I study – & edit articles on – hypnosis. Lately, my fingers insert an N any time I type a word that begins “H-Y-P”. @ButMadNNW
“Evenutally” and “watn” for “want” @MariaHench
I add random final-Es to things that don’t need them. Don’t ask me why. @__Deb
My most common typo: wrok for work, even as part of a larger word. Last couple of days I’ve typed Dilpomacy a few times. @dudgeoh
My most common is occasionally. For some reason always comes out “ocassionally,” so I keep my eyes open for it! @InkyClean
I often end up typing “Untied States” instead of “United States.” I rather like that one. @JenHoward
I often type “YOU” in all caps for no reason at the beginning of a sentence, and constantly type “teh” when I mean “the.” @TimBabbComedian
I always type apostrophes after the contraction. Dont’, wont’, cant’. Word auto corrects to don’t’, won’t’, can’t’. @akimoku
I use a textbook by an author named Flick; I always type Flickr instead. Silly Web 2.0, confusing me like that. 😉 @profsivek
Children always ends up childrne. Training winds up trainng. and don’t get me started on my last name ; ) @michellv123
“I can’t type Indiana…ever. Indidna, INdidana, Indidana…I have to come to a crawl when I type it. Too many vowels.” Lisa Higgins, via Facebook
“I *always* type “reasearch” instead of “research.” Erin McKean
“traffice”–I have no idea why. @MarkWSchumann
Oh! One of my classics, a shadow of my Highlander fandom days: “Methos” for “Method.” @ButMadNNW
As I’ve just been reminded I seldom get “particularly” right first time – I have “particulalry” on auto-correct. @stevebwriter
For me, it’s “hospital.” It always comes out “hopsital” unless I make a conscious effort. Sandy Sutton, via Facebook.
I wonder how many people type “greatful”? (Like the “reasearch” mentions.) @frindley
Embarrassingly, “Knasas” for “Kansas.” @grammarmonkeys
Don’t ask me why, but I almost invariably type “thnaks” when I mean “thanks.” @mjcp
As a health care editor, I often type “medial” instead of “medical.” No help with spell check there. @azmattmorgan
Funny, I just typed “speach.” Never done that before. This discussion has got typos on my mind! @marlamarkman
“Form” when I mean “from.” grrr @SpellboundBkshp
Lately my typo is mangement instead of management. I think it’s some sort of doggy skin disorder. @Lori_writes
I type “studnet” for “student” most of the time. @AimeeGissel
I type “Sna Diego” a lot. And I triple check each time I type it to make sure I don’t claim to be in “pubic relations.” @Stefaniya
Look waht (or what) you started, … I was typed my full name on a form as Gerri Berri because I wasn’t paying attention. @gerrrib
I put notes on stories all the time that say “wtih pix.” @gerrrib
Mange rather than manage, manger rather than manager. @ciaramoynihan
When your typo hang up is teh instead of the, people know what you mean. When it’s “trail” instead of “trial,” you’re being confusing. @gerrrib
I often type “pronunication” for “pronunciation.” Very embarrassing. @pronuncian
Always have trouble with point. Even though the first 3 letters are right there in a row, I usually type “opint.” @4ndyman
So used to typing “ing” at word’s end that anything ending in “in” gets a G added: begin(g), satin(g), Palin(g) @4ndyman
Taht/that @kgrindrod
decision and prescious – see?- I mean precious. @aubergineword
I often type “itme” instead of “time” and “enterpreneur” instead of “entrepreneur” lol. @maheshrmohan
The list already seems exhaustive. But with such a variety represented here, I suspect there are still many more. What’s your typo?