# slip of the pen

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/slip-of-the-pen
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A mistake in handwriting; (loosely) any minor error by the writer that made it into print, having not been caught by editors or proofreaders.

## Examples

- I wrote the wrong date because of a slip of the pen.
- The author apologized for the typo in the first chapter, calling it a minor slip of the pen.
- Although the manuscript underwent rigorous editing, a small slip of the pen regarding the protagonist's age remained in the final published edition.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.