What is an example of a transposition in reading? Understanding the Reading Process

September 27, 2025 •

4 min read

Research has found that reversals and transpositions are very common among typical first-graders just learning to read. Understanding what is an example of a transposition in reading can help differentiate a normal developmental stage from a more persistent learning challenge, guiding effective support strategies.

Quick Summary

A transposition in reading occurs when the reader switches the order of letters within a word (e.g., reading "was" for "saw") or words within a sentence (e.g., "John said" becomes "said John"). This common miscue provides important clues about a person's developing literacy skills and processing abilities.

Key Points

Swapping letters: Reading 'was' instead of 'saw' is a classic example of a transposition where letters are switched within a word.
Switching words: A reader mixing up the order of words in a sentence, like reading 'said John' instead of 'John said', is another form of transposition.
Normal development: It is common for beginning readers to make transposition errors, and this does not automatically indicate a serious reading issue.
Potential red flag: Persistent and frequent transposition errors, especially in later grades, can be a symptom of a reading disability like dyslexia.
Strategy is key: Rather than just correcting the error, effective strategies involve encouraging self-correction, using multisensory techniques, and building phonics skills.
Context helps: Many transposition errors can be corrected by the reader themselves by relying on the context of the sentence to notice the mistake.

Defining Transposition in the Reading Process

In simple terms, a transposition is the reordering or swapping of letters or words during reading. It's a type of reading error, also known as a miscue, that can happen at various stages of literacy development. While often associated with dyslexia, it's a mistake that many new readers make as their brains learn to process and sequence written language.

Examples of Letter Transposition

One of the most classic examples of transposition is swapping adjacent letters in a word. For instance, a reader might see the word 'black' but read 'balk'. This happens because the letters 'l' and 'a' have been transposed. Other common examples of letter transposition include:

'saw' read as 'was'
'on' read as 'no'
'felt' read as 'flet'
'gril' read as 'girl'

These errors can be either 'close transpositions,' involving adjacent letters, or 'distant transpositions,' where non-adjacent letters are swapped. Close transpositions are often more common and can sometimes be corrected instinctively by the reader as they process the word in context.

Examples of Word Transposition

Transposition doesn't only happen with individual letters; it can also affect the order of words in a sentence. A reader may accidentally swap the positions of two words, especially if the meaning of the sentence remains largely intact. For example, a student might read "Here you go," John said, as "Here you go," said John. This type of miscue indicates that the reader is processing the sentence for overall meaning and might be using rote reading for common phrases.

Transposition vs. Other Reading Errors

It's important to distinguish transposition from other common reading miscues, such as letter reversals or substitutions. While they can appear similar, they stem from different underlying processes.


Error Type	Description	Example	Underlying Cause	Affect on Meaning
Transposition	Swapping the order of letters or words.	Reading 'was' for 'saw'.	Issue with sequencing or rapid processing of information.	Can change meaning significantly (e.g., 'lion' vs 'loin').
Substitution	Replacing a letter or word with another.	Reading 'house' for 'horse' or 'markey' for 'monkey'.	Confusion with letter sounds, visual cues, or relying heavily on context.	Can change meaning or make it nonsensical.
Reversal	Reading or writing a letter or number backwards.	Reading 'b' for 'd' or '6' for '9'.	Visual-spatial difficulty, common in early stages, also linked to dyslexia.	Can confuse the word and its meaning (e.g., 'bog' vs 'dog').

Underlying Causes and Considerations

Transposition is a symptom, not a diagnosis, and can be influenced by several factors:

Developmental Stage: As noted, it is a very normal part of the learning process for young children. Their brains are still building the neural pathways for reading and processing, and temporary mix-ups are to be expected. They are transposing letters because they are poor readers, not poor readers because they transpose letters.
Phonological Processing: The ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds of spoken language is a key component of reading. Difficulties in this area can lead to letter sequencing errors, causing transposition.
Cognitive Load and Fatigue: Even skilled readers can transpose letters or words when tired, stressed, or under high cognitive load. This shows that the process of reading, while automated for many, still requires significant mental resources.
Reading Disabilities: Persistent transposition errors beyond the early learning stage can be a sign of a reading disability like dyslexia. Dyslexic readers may experience more frequent and pronounced transpositions, along with other difficulties like slow and inaccurate reading.

Strategies to Address Transposition

For persistent issues, a multi-faceted approach can be helpful. Here are some research-backed strategies:

Teach Left and Right: Explicitly teaching and reinforcing the concept of left and right can help orient readers and provide a stable reference point for letter directionality.
Multisensory Techniques: Incorporate as many senses as possible during reading instruction. Using touch (e.g., tracing letters in sand), hearing (e.g., saying sounds aloud), and sight helps create stronger neural connections. For example, a student can be encouraged to say the sound of each letter as they trace it.
Encourage Self-Monitoring: Instead of immediately correcting an error, allow the reader to finish the sentence. Then, ask, "Did that make sense?" This prompts the reader to use context clues and self-correct, which builds metacognitive skills.
Fluency Drills: Use fluency grids and flashcards to help build speed and precision at the letter, word, and phrase levels. Repeated, focused exposure helps automate the correct sequencing of letters and words.
Explicit Phonics Instruction: For letter-level transpositions, reinforcing a strong phonics foundation is crucial. Ensure the student has mastered letter-sound knowledge and can blend sounds accurately. Nonsense word drills can also help to focus specifically on decoding rather than relying on memorization.
Address Working Memory: Since working memory can be a factor, strategies that reduce cognitive load can be effective. This can include breaking down larger tasks, reading shorter passages, and having a student repeat back instructions. More information can be found at this resource: Equipped for Reading Success.

Conclusion: Moving from Misunderstanding to Mastery

Transposition is a common and understandable reading miscue, particularly in the early stages of learning. By recognizing and understanding what is an example of a transposition in reading, educators and parents can provide targeted support. The key is to see these errors not as failures, but as signposts indicating areas where a reader's processing skills are still developing. With the right strategies and a focus on building a strong foundation in phonics, phonological awareness, and fluency, these miscues can be overcome, paving the way for confident and accurate reading.

Frequently Asked Questions

A simple example is when a child reads the word 'on' but says 'no'. The two letters have been switched, or transposed, from their correct order.

Yes, it is very normal. Many young readers in kindergarten and first grade commonly transpose letters as their brains are still learning to correctly process and sequence words.

No, it does not. While transposing letters can be a sign of dyslexia, it is also a normal part of early reading development. The frequency and persistence of the errors are key factors in determining if a reading disability might be present.

Transposition is switching the order of letters (e.g., 'felt' becomes 'flet'), whereas reversal is misreading a letter as its mirror image (e.g., 'b' is confused with 'd').

Instead of immediately correcting them, encourage self-correction. Wait until they finish the sentence and ask if it made sense. Using multisensory techniques and providing explicit phonics instruction can also help.

Yes, even skilled adult readers can occasionally transpose letters or words, especially when they are reading quickly, fatigued, or under stress. It is usually an isolated incident rather than a consistent pattern.

An example of a word transposition is when a reader sees the sentence 'He gave the ball to his friend' and reads it as 'He gave to his friend the ball.' The order of the last two words is switched.

The transposed letter effect refers to the phenomenon where people can more easily identify a word when a preview contains transposed letters (e.g., 'mnokey' for 'monkey') than when it contains substituted letters (e.g., 'markey').