Definition:Mistake

Definition
A mistake (as opposed to an error) is an inaccuracy or (deduced) falsehood caused by (ultimately) human fault.

Synonyms include such terms as boob, bloomer, blooper, blunder, cock-up, bug (computer science), mess-up, oversight, howler and other less polite words frequently encountered at the backs of schoolrooms worldwide.

Please feel free to add your own.

Whoosho
Spelloes, scannoes and typoes can be reduced by mechanical means, for example spell-checkers, but these are unreliable.

Homophone horrors are not subject to being detected by a spell-checker, although a grammar-checker may catch one (if you are lucky).

Devices which interpret semantic meaning may help here, but they are not widely available.

The higher level mistakes (thinkos and whooshos) require higher levels of understanding to comprehend, and so are not conducive to automated detection techniques.

Quotes

 * Although there are revolutions in mathematics, they are usually changes in viewpoint or philosophy; earlier results do not change -- although the hypotheses needed to prove them may. In fact, there is a word in mathematics for previous results that are later changed; they are called 'mistakes'.
 * -- : Historical Introduction.

Also see

 * Definition:Fallacy