atomic typo

noun

A typographical error that coincidentally results in a different, correctly spelled word and thus cannot be detected by a spell checker.

“Many a proofreader has chuckled at how often the atomic typo of "form" for "from" appears in proofs and in print; this error catches their eye more easily than it catches the eye of most writers.”

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Meanings

nounatomic typo (plural atomic typos)

plural atomic typos

  1. rareslangA typographical error that coincidentally results in a different, correctly spelled word and thus cannot be detected by a spell checker.

    Many a proofreader has chuckled at how often the atomic typo of "form" for "from" appears in proofs and in print; this error catches their eye more easily than it catches the eye of most writers.

Cite this entry
APA

atomic typo. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atomic%20typo

MLA

“atomic typo.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atomic%20typo. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “atomic typo,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/atomic%20typo.

Source: atomic typo on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.