Which term describes the act of mistaking one word for another?

There are several terms that describe the act of mistaking one word for another, depending on the specific situation and the reason for the mistake:

* Malapropism: This is the most common term, and it refers to the substitution of a word for another that sounds similar but has a different meaning. It's often used humorously, like saying "dance the floor" instead of "dance on the floor."

* Spoonerism: This refers to the transposition of the initial sounds of two words, often creating a humorous effect. For example, "you have hissed all my mystery lectures" instead of "you have missed all my history lectures."

* Semantic error: This refers to a mistake in the meaning of a word, often due to a misunderstanding of its definition. For example, using the word "affect" when "effect" is intended.

* Lexical error: This is a general term for any error related to the use of words, including misspellings, incorrect grammar, and mispronunciations.

* Slip of the tongue: This is a general term for any verbal mistake, including mispronunciations, word substitutions, and grammatical errors.

The best term to use will depend on the specific context and the type of mistake that is being made.