If the change was intentional, it would make more sense to change 1:18 to "Son" to harmonize with John 3:16.
That being said, we are just one letter off in the Nomina Sacra which has been mentioned multiple times on this thread.
Also, accidental scribal error could occur through error of "memory". If I am used to calling Jesus the μονογενης υίος ( unique son/only begotten son) then which I come to John 1:18, my mind trigger to this as soon as I see the word μονογενης. I completely miss the word θεος because I thought I knew what was coming next. This would be incredibly easy to do once the υίος started appearing in the nomina sacra form. Which was later than θεος appearing in the nomina sacra form.
It is much easier to explain how God could be accidental changed to Son, then explaining how Son was changed to God.
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Perhaps that is correct, but according to earlier discussion (posts 88 McCree79 & 90 Origen) the scribe could have recalled the opening verses and changed Son to God.
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