General terms:
* Misused: This is the most basic and general term.
* Incorrect: This is similar to "misused," but emphasizes the inaccuracy of the usage.
* Improper: This suggests that the word is not used in accordance with proper grammar or usage.
More specific terms:
* Misspelled: For words that are spelled incorrectly.
* Mispronounced: For words that are pronounced incorrectly.
* Malapropism: For words that are used incorrectly because of a similar-sounding word.
* Solecism: For a grammatical error, including incorrect word usage.
* Faux pas: For a word used in a way that is socially inappropriate.
* Idiom error: For an idiom that is used incorrectly, such as "raining cats and dogs" when it should be "raining cats and kittens".
* Cliché: For a word or phrase that is overused and has lost its original meaning.
Examples:
* "He was misusing the word 'literally' when he said he was literally dying of laughter." (misused)
* "The student used the word 'affect' incorrectly in their essay." (incorrect)
* "The misspelling of 'definitely' as 'definately' is a common mistake." (misspelled)
* "The speaker's mispronunciation of the word 'epitome' made it sound like 'epp-i-tome'." (mispronounced)
* "The waiter's malapropism, saying 'a big slice of pizza' instead of 'a large slice of pizza,' was humorous." (malapropism)
* "The speaker's faux pas was using a slang term in a professional setting." (faux pas)
* "The writer's overuse of the cliché 'as white as snow' made the writing sound stale." (cliché)
The best word to use depends on the specific error and the context in which it occurs.