Ah now I get it.

[pharmaT]

Yesterday I was reading an old London parish register and several people were listed as living in what I thought was MEOI.  Spent ages trying to work out where this was.  This morning I realised that it wasn't an I but a T and it was Mile End Old Town.

Anyone else had an oh moment that made them feel a little daft for not seeing it before?

[pinefamily]

Many times reading old documents, PharmaT. Just when I've thought I have worked out a word, I find it written more clearly or in a diffrrent context. Then I think, "Oh, that's what the word is". Much slapping of forehead. 

[andrewalston]

I often get this. Of course once you know what it ought to read, it becomes impossible to believe that it could ever have looked like anything else.

However there must be people who have the opposite problem working as transcribers. Many's the time I have come across the name of the census place plainly written in the "Born" column for someone but transcribed as something entirely different.

[philipsearching]

My biggest "duh" (slaps forehead) moment came when I was researching a friend's lineage and found his 2x great grandfather on the census as a child living in Lancashire with his parents.  According to my reading of the enumerator's handwriting he was born in prison.  After much thought, I realised that he was actually born in Preston, - but I couldn't help thinking that an ancestor born in prison would be a very interesting addition to any family tree.

Philip

[Nic.]

Reading this I immediately thought of the Peter Kay sketch on miss heard song lyrics which can be viewed on YouTube. I can never listen to ‘We Are Family’ without hearing the line ‘just let me staple the Vicar’

[rayard]

I thought I had an unusual family name appearing "Homas". It was quite some time before I realised some of the lettering ran together and he was "Thomas"!!
rayard.

[ThrelfallYorky]

Yes, we've all had those moments. I sometimes feel that I've had more than most.

[Treetotal]

I had what I thought was an unusual name Miss D.Lila Noseworthy until a Family member pointed out that it was most likely Delilah. Lightbulb moment   
Carol