Comments on: Is there a term for the phenomenon of unintentionally using an entirely different word when writing?

Question: Is there a term for the phenomenon of unintentionally using an entirely different word when writing?

Wossname — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:44:48 -0800

Is there a term for the phenomenon of unintentionally using an entirely different word when writing?

I've noticed when typing or texting (it doesn't seem to happen when I print or write long-hand), I often type the entirely wrong word. "Word" instead of "war", or "boat" instead of "bike". It isn't the result of hitting the wrong keys (I am a fast typist). There are usually some similarities between the 2 words - similar sounds, for example.

I'm seldom aware of doing it and don't notice the mistake until I proof what I've written a few times.* I've had this problem for as long as I can remember.

Is this a known phenomenon with a name? I'm more curious than anything else, but am cautious about my neurological health, having witnessed similar behavior from my grandmother when she was recovering from a stroke. I've a marked stammer when I speak (anything from not being able to say a word, to repeating an entire sentence a few times), so I already suspect the language center of my brain isn't up to spec.

* In this post alone, I typed "have" instead of "happen" in the first paragraph. Yeesh.

By: tel3path

tel3path — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:58:02 -0800

Paraphasia.

If this had just started happening, I'd say get thee to a neurologist. Since you've had the problem for as long as you can remember, I imagine it's just a quirk. (IANANN/D/etc.)

By: zamboni

zamboni — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 14:59:22 -0800

I've heard these called thinkos.

By: vienaragis

vienaragis — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 17:00:44 -0800

I don't know about the semantics of it, but if it helps at all, I do this all the time too when typing. Not speaking or writing, just typing. ("Idiot" becomes "ice cream" for example.) I noticed it became a problem when I began to learn to type more quickly.

My silly guess on the whole deal is certain words have certain rhythmic finger patterns, and if you're going too fast, your hands will put down a word that are typed with close or similar pattern. I've absolutely nothing to back this up, though.

By: tamitang

tamitang — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:28:20 -0800

Are you taking any medication that might be causing this? When I took Topamax, I noticed myself doing this, both while typing, writing, and speaking. It was very disconcerting.

By: ChefJoAnna

ChefJoAnna — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:55:48 -0800

muscle memory plays havoc with my fingers when relating to my keyboard. i cannot type foot without it turning into FOOD. That's a chef-thing, i know, but could that be an issue for you?

i know my brain is broken somehow... I have found that sometimes i have to recite a litany of not-quite-right words before the right one comes out, but only verbally, not in typing.

By: gakiko

gakiko — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:05:22 -0800

I call it a "Freudian slip" and don't get upset about medical significance.

By: bitterkitten

bitterkitten — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:25:00 -0800

YES! I've been doing this for years, and wondering the same thing. Similarly strange, I will sometimes notice that I type a whole sentence, go back and read it, and I will have typed instead of a wrong whole word, a word that is clearly in the wrong tense.

By: vickyverky

vickyverky — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 16:03:30 -0800

posted by Wossname

Eponysterical.

By: sunnichka

sunnichka — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:53:29 -0800

In this post, metafilter's neurologist ikkyu2 notes the phenomenon you describe and calls it a paraphasia.