An erratuman error in a book, newspaper, or other published material is a mistake in printed or published text, usually caused by a typing, printing, or productionthe process of making and preparing something for publication error. It is often used in formalused in official or serious situations, not casual ones publishing to point out and correct a specific error.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ih-RAY-tum/
Easy pronunciation: ih-RAY-tum (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the second syllable: ray.
Used here in the sense of a printing or publishing mistake.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Erratum Meaning
a printing or publishing mistake
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a mistake in printed or published matter caused by a mechanical or production error
Example: The magazine issued an erratum to correct the misspelled name in the article.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- misprint — A natural everyday substitute for a printing error.
- typo — Common in modern usage, especially for text typed by mistake.
- typographical error — A formal, precise synonym for a typing or printing mistake.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Erratum Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- misprint
- typo
- typographical error
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use erratum to mean any error, but it specifically refers to a mistake in printed or published text.
- The plural is errata.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does erratum mean?
An erratum is a mistake in printed or published text, especially one caused by typing, printing, or production.
What is the difference between erratum and typo?
A typo is an informal word for a typing mistake, while erratum is a more formal publishing term for a printed or published error.
What is the plural of erratum?
The plural is errata.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-19. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.