Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: neilep on 14/11/2011 05:40:55

Title: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: neilep on 14/11/2011 05:40:55
Dearest Sentanceologists,

Occasionally when typing a sentence I miss out a word altogether. I'm saying the sentence in my mind as I write it and then find one of the words is missing when written !...why's that then ?....Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence ? Is it because I have spoken the word in my head that makes me think I have written it ?...what's the science behind that ?

Does this happen to ewe too ?

whajafink ?

Neil

ps: Could extreme fatigue be the answer !....I'm knackered !!
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: CliffordK on 14/11/2011 08:05:50
Happens to me all the time.
And... re-reading doesn't always help because one knows what to expect!!!!

Or... it can be bad if a preposition such as "the" occurs at the
the end of the line.

Sometimes when reading, I'll either miss a word such as "not"... or add it where it doesn't in fact exist.

Perhaps it is a sign of mild dyslexia.
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: neilep on 14/11/2011 18:03:13
Happens to me all the time.
And... re-reading doesn't always help because one knows what to expect!!!!

Or... it can be bad if a preposition such as "the" occurs at the
the end of the line.

Sometimes when reading, I'll either miss a word such as "not"... or add it where it doesn't in fact exist.

Perhaps it is a sign of mild dyslexia.



Thank ewe very much Clifford...I'm consoled that it's not just me and welcome your kind comment. I have too wondered if it's a very mild form of dyslexia. Thanks again for the comforting reply . [:)]
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: Nizzle on 15/11/2011 06:18:39
Simple answer: Your brain is much faster than your hands.

Your tongue is also faster than your hands, that's why you'll never have this happen when you speak, only when you write.

Try to do this experiment: Notice what word is in your head while typing a sentence. You'll notice that the word in your head is often a couple of words further along the sentence than the one you are typing at that moment :)

So it's easy for your hands to skip a word sometimes. This isn't dyslexia in my opinion..
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: Don_1 on 20/11/2011 11:53:58
You are alone in that sheepie. (Note I deliberately left out the word 'not' in that sentence). It can totally alter what you have written.

I think Nizzle has hit the nail on the, though in my case the difference speed between my brain and fingers is minimal. (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fclueless%2F1.gif&hash=ba6e884e2ac18d739c0e89967c82862b). As clifford pointed, it is often pointless to try to proof read your own scribing because you may not actually read it, since you know what to expect. That's why authors of mail order, advertising and other such blurb use proof readers. Mistakes and omitted words in such circumstances can prove very costly.

Now, if you will excuse me, I'm off to make a cup of, because I'm parched.
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: Geezer on 21/11/2011 07:26:51
Wot I want to know is how come there are no in in the Post Reply panel, but whenI look at my post in the thread there always a bunch of
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: Mr. Al on 23/12/2014 19:42:32
Dearest Sentanceologists,

Occasionally when typing a sentence I miss out a word altogether. I'm saying the sentence in my mind as I write it and then find one of the words is missing when written !...why's that then ?....Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence ? Is it because I have spoken the word in my head that makes me think I have written it ?...what's the science behind that ?

Does this happen to ewe too ?

whajafink ?

Neil

ps: Could extreme fatigue be the answer !....I'm knackered !!

I've the same problem, many times when I'm doing my homework, chatting, or anytime I need to check twice my written to avoid a miss word, and I write in Spanish, then it isn't associated to the language. Another problem, but not sure if is still associated, its problem to read anything. I can read without problem, fast and fluenty, but I tire too fast and begin to procastinate all the time. I think have this problem all my life, but now I'm 33 years old, and study my master degree, and its become a really big issue to me began to read all that books and papers, and 10 minutes later end up checking my facebook, its really frustrating. What you think about it? There is some good practice that you can recommend to me? Thanks in advanced.
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: syhprum on 23/12/2014 21:05:21
It works both ways it is all too easy to duplicate a word when writing, luckily "spell checker" picks it up.
I think it is a temporary lapse of memory you forget that you have already added the word.
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: Ophiolite on 24/12/2014 01:08:57
Surely this is because different parts of the brain are engaged in different aspects of the activity. You decide what you want to write, type, or say, then pass it on to the appropriate brain section to take care of it automatically. However, since it no longer has conscious oversight errors can creep in.

Contrary to nizzle, I do not think this only effects the written/typed word. When teaching familiar topics I have, on occasion, started thinking about something else, just running on autopilot only to encounter questioning students. Invariably I have stated the opposite, or the negative of what I should have said.
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: nicson on 19/09/2017 10:08:47
Happens to me all the time.
And... re-reading doesn't always help because one knows what to expect!!!!

Or... it can be bad if a preposition such as "the" occurs at the
the end of the line.

Sometimes when reading, I'll either miss a word such as "not"... or add it where it doesn't in fact exist.

Perhaps it is a sign of mild dyslexia.

I agree this, Because I faced similar things in my life.. I miss to type "not" when I send emails, something like "I am handling that" but I really thought to say "I am not handling that."
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: chris on 19/09/2017 14:10:55
I miss to type "not"

Yes, I've had a few embarrassing mis-types and omissions of that sort too... significantly deflates a powerful argument when it happens...
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: pegasus60 on 18/10/2017 19:07:53
Perhaps it is a sign of mild dyslexia.

Lately, I have noticed that I constantly miss "r" when typing your. It happens regardless the type of keyboard I use. The spell checking can't detect it and I don't see it even when re-reading what I wrote. It is really annoying and often very embarrassing. It doesn't seem like dyslexia because I don't twist letters. I don't experience this with any other word that ends on r, only with "your." It's really puzzling! I'm concerned it may be some early sign of dementia, which runs in my family.
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: Tekakwitha on 25/03/2019 23:57:45
My mother used to speak rapidly and omit words.  She did the same when writing.  Her mind worked so fast that she was ahead of her self in writing and speech.  I have the same pattern.  We were both diagnosed and hospitalised for bipolar.  I still omit words when typing--usually to my surprise.  But this odd tendency helped me keep my Doctoral Dissertation within the word limit, Ha Ha.  No, but I did have to read the text carefully, not assuming that words were present just because I had read on to the end of the sentence!   Neither I nor my mother are dyslexic.    But we do have fast working minds which never cease thinking (my psych finds this interesting).  Hence we overrun our own speech and writing.  I am not suggesting that bipolar is the reason for any other person developing the tendency to omit words.  There can be other causes.  But Bipolar is one possibility. 
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: lpmm on 22/06/2021 19:44:43
I know this is extremely old now but I'm very happy I found Nizzles answer. I never thought of it that me. I keep missing words when I type and it's actually getting worse. Thought I might be dyslexic or something but I now prefer the idea that my mind is simply superior and too fast for my body. :)
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: Michael22alen on 08/12/2022 08:31:03
It can be. At the least, it's a sign you're not tracking. If some teacher told you not to use your finger when you read, ignore that advice. If you are missing words, you need to track. I'd suggest you do your finger and drag it along under the words. You could try a ruler too to see if that works.
You can train your brain to pick up the words you're missing but it will not happen on its own. Track for a while and - don't rush. Take your time.
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: alancalverd on 08/12/2022 12:23:13
Yes, I've had a few embarrassing mis-types and omissions of that sort too... significantly deflates a powerful argument when it happens...
Like in the Ten Commandments. Sadly, no backspace or correcting fluid for tablets of stone.
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: paul cotter on 08/12/2022 15:53:05
The slow but inexorable advance of dementia.
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: Petrochemicals on 08/12/2022 21:50:03
This says an "event" can cause a momentary blackout.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23531440-700-brain-farts-9-ways-your-brain-can-make-you-feel-stupid/
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: Michael22alen on 09/12/2022 06:51:44
You may be developing speed reading. This is how I read many things. I have to make an effort if I want to read every word.
The writing is a sign of your mind getting ahead of your fingers. You’ve already finished writing the Sentence in your head and you’re already thinking ahead to the next sentence instead of concentrating on getting out the sentence you’re currently writing.
Title: Re: Why Do I Sometimes Miss A Word From A Written Sentence?
Post by: Michael22alen on 30/01/2023 14:04:16
There could be several reasons for missing a word from a written sentence, including:
1. Inattention or lack of focus
2. Poor vision or eyesight
3. Brain fatigue or distraction
4. Familiarity with the text, leading to automatic processing
5. Speed reading without proper comprehension.
    It's important to identify the reason and work on improving reading habits and concentration.