Pronunciation: [fˈaktɔ͡ɪd] (IPA) 
The spelling of the word "factoid" can be confusing as it is similar to the word "fact" but has a different meaning. A factoid is an unreliable or false piece of information that is presented as a fact. Its spelling is based on the word "fact" but ends with "-oid," which means "resembling" or "similar to." In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as /ˈfæktɔɪd/ with emphasis on the first syllable.
A factoid is a brief and trivial piece of information or an interesting fact that may or may not be entirely accurate or substantial. The term was coined by Norman Mailer in 1973, who defined factoids as "facts which have no existence before appearing in a magazine or newspaper, creations which are not so much lies as a product to manipulate emotion in the Silent Majority." Factoids are usually presented as interesting tidbits of knowledge, often in the form of statistics or anecdotes, intended to capture the attention or spark curiosity of the reader or listener.
What sets a factoid apart from a typical fact is its relative lack of importance or reliability. These pieces of information are often popularized and widely circulated through various media outlets, but they may not meet the criteria of being thoroughly researched or verified. Factoids can sometimes be misleading, presenting incomplete or oversimplified versions of reality. Hence, while factoids are intriguing and entertaining, caution must be exercised in accepting them as definitive truths.
Factoids have become increasingly abundant in the digital age, spreading rapidly through the internet and social media platforms. They are often used for their attention-grabbing qualities, making them prime subjects for clickbait articles or sensationalized headlines. Due to their trivial nature, factoids are commonly employed in conversational ice-breaking or as conversation fillers.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word factoid was coined by the writer Norman Mailer in his 1973 biography of Marilyn Monroe. However, Mailer's usage of the term differed from its current meaning. He used it to describe something that resembles a fact but is actually false or misleading. The term gained popularity and evolved to refer to a brief or trivial piece of information that appears to be factual but may not be entirely accurate. In essence, Mailer's intent behind the word was to convey the idea of a false fact.
