‘勘误’ (kān wù) is a formal noun meaning ‘textual verification and correction’—the process of carefully checking written material for errors and issuing official corrections. The character 勘 (kān) means ‘to examine thoroughly, to investigate,’ often used in contexts like surveying or proofreading; 误 (wù) means ‘error’ or ‘mistake.’ Together, they denote the act or result of identifying and rectifying mistakes in published texts, such as books, newspapers, academic papers, or official documents.

This term is commonly found in printed materials as a standalone section titled ‘勘误表’ (kān wù biǎo, ‘errata list’) listing corrections for typos, factual inaccuracies, or formatting issues. It carries a professional, meticulous connotation and is rarely used in casual speech—it appears most often in publishing, editing, academic, and administrative settings where accuracy and accountability matter.