A digital signal is encoded for error correction, and the encoded digital signal is transmitted in M transmitting paths. The signal to be encoded occurs as N sequences of data words. A plurality n of sequences of error correcting words are generated from respective words of the N sequences delayed by respective different delay times of (D-di) words, where d.sub.i is a whole number associated with an ith one of the n error correcting word sequences. The resulting N data word sequences and n error correcting word sequences are provided with respective different total delay times, so that the total delays of the N sequences differ by an integral number D of words from one another. Blocks of the delayed N data sequences and n error correcting word sequences are formed and the blocks are cyclically distributed among the M transmitting paths. The values of M, N, n, D, and d.sub.i are selected so that the least common multiple of any two values of (d-d.sub.i) is greater than (N+n-1)D; and for any value of (D-di), (d-di) and M are relatively prime. Favorably, M is selected as 2.sup. k, and (D-d.sub.i) is odd.