Long form of "typo"

Question

The definition of typo, according to Cambridge Dictionary:

a small mistake in a text made when it was typed or printed

Can anyone tell me the long form of typo?

You can check the origin of a word in dictionary that has etymology. typo such as etymonline.com. But also lexico and several others. — James K, Apr 16 '22 at 10:01

score 30 · Accepted Answer · edited May 09 '22 at 14:35

30

Typo is short for "typographical error".

From Dictionary.com:

noun, plural ty·pos.Informal.
typographical error.

edited May 09 '22 at 14:35

ColleenV

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answered Apr 16 '22 at 08:54

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We usually use the term to mean errors of the typing (wrong letters, or wrong order), rather than of the typography (wrong font or positioning). – Toby Speight Apr 18 '22 at 07:47
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@TobySpeight But when you realize that this term originated ~200 years ago it makes sense that all the accidental errors to do with typesetting would have the same name, from putting the right letter in the wrong font to putting the wrong letter in the right font. Of course we've expanded it (a lot) now, but this is far from the first English word/phrase to have strayed from it's original meaning. – user3067860 Apr 18 '22 at 19:29

Anonymous · Answer 2 · 2022-04-19T06:07:10.427

typing error

I advocate typing error for present-day usage.

This better than typographical error reflects what is used in other languages, for example German Tippfehler, French erreur de frappe (or faute de frappe), Danish tastefejl (literally keying error).

It’s also the meaning that I have always understood from typo: an error made in typing.

Obviously, if what you intended was an error in the typography without regard to how that error has come about, then you should say that: typographical error.

The origin of typo

Edit: PC Luddite commented:

This may be a more accurate description of what a typo is, but it doesn't explain its origin.

I get your point. Maybe I interpreted the question of the long form of “typo” a bit differently from you. I agree that origin is relevant, though. So let’s take it, here from Online Etymology Dictionary (link at the bottom):

1816, "compositor," short for typographer; 1892 as short for typographical error

My interpretation was more, when people use typo in 2022, what would be the long form? So I answered what I think people mean by it today, not what they meant more than 100 years ago.

Link: typo in Online Etymology Dictionary

Long form of "typo"

2 Answers2

typing error

The origin of typo