I overlooked this

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I overlooked this" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when admitting that you failed to notice or consider something important. Example: "I apologize for the oversight; I overlooked this detail in the report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Apparently, I overlooked this cup in the laundry room.

Harvard University

"You could say it doesn't particularly reflect well on me that I overlooked this in the report".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I realized I had overlooked this town where I've shopped for groceries, gone to the dry cleaners, fixed my car, gone to the bank, and repaired a watch.

The New Yorker

I overlooked the plain fact that this image was not, after all, one that celebrated women's labour rights, but was capitalism's agitprop.

The Guardian - Opinion

Prior to this show I feel maybe I'd overlooked this track but seeing it live made me realize just how good it is.

Vice

I somehow overlooked this little mobile gaming tit-bit from E3 - apparently Sega was showing off a new Sonic title, Sonic Jump, exclusively designed for Java handsets.

The Guardian - Tech

Pachman doesn't even analyze 21.Bxc8!.) ("I simply overlooked this beautiful move," Pachman admits. All Fischer's heavy pieces target the white king. ).

Huffington Post

I would have overlooked this if my friend hadn't mentioned it.

The New York Times - Arts

In my promiscuous quest for thrills, I'd somehow overlooked this debonair old smoothie, which has been feeding and cosseting the Mayfair set since 1977.

Independent

I overlook the courtyard garden.

The Guardian - Travel

As I stood overlooking this building site in San Pedro, I got chills thinking about how the world was changing right before my eyes.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I overlooked this" when admitting a mistake or oversight, particularly in situations where you should have been aware of the information.

Common error

Avoid using "overlooked" when you mean "overseeing." "Overlooked" means you missed something, while "overseeing" means you are supervising something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I overlooked this" serves as a statement of admission, acknowledging a failure to notice or consider something. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is perfectly acceptable and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I overlooked this" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for admitting a failure to notice something. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread across both formal and informal contexts. While not exceedingly common, it finds relevance in news media and academic spheres, signifying its adaptable nature. When aiming for alternative expressions, consider nuances in meaning that might be better conveyed using synonyms like "I missed this" or "I failed to notice this".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I missed this

Simple and direct substitution, indicating a failure to notice.

I failed to notice this

More formal alternative, emphasizing the lack of awareness.

I didn't catch this

Informal alternative suggesting a slight oversight.

This escaped my attention

More sophisticated way to express that something was not noticed.

I wasn't aware of this

Focuses on the lack of knowledge about something.

I let this slip

Informal and suggests a minor and unintentional mistake.

I disregarded this

Implies a conscious but mistaken choice to ignore something.

I wasn't paying attention to this

Indicates a lack of focus that resulted in missing something.

I ignored this

Implies that something was dismissed or intentionally not considered.

I neglected this

Suggests a failure to care for or attend to something properly.

FAQs

What does "I overlooked this" mean?

The phrase "I overlooked this" means that you failed to notice or consider something, often implying a mistake or oversight.

What can I say instead of "I overlooked this"?

You can use alternatives like "I missed this", "I failed to notice this", or "this escaped my attention" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I have overlooked this"?

Yes, "I have overlooked this" is grammatically correct. It is the present perfect tense of "I overlook this", indicating that you overlooked something at some point in the past.

How is "I overlooked this" different from "I ignored this"?

"I overlooked this" implies a failure to notice something, while "I ignored this" suggests a conscious decision to disregard it.