Scientist's clerical error originally included (9)

I believe the answer is:

priestley

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'scientist's' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

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(Other definitions for priestley that I've seen before include "Yorkshire novelist and playwright" , "who discovered an element" , "Writer" , "J. B. -, English novelist, playwright" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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