Made a mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Made a mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when acknowledging an error or fault in a situation or action. Example: "I realized I made a mistake in my calculations, and I need to correct them."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Made a mistake?

WikiHow

He'd made a mistake.

The New Yorker

I made a mistake.

The New York Times

In "Made a Mistake?

The New York Times

We made a mistake".

The New Yorker

Yes, she made a mistake.

The New York Times

How about: "Made a mistake?

The New York Times

But Monty made a mistake.

The New Yorker

You have made a mistake.

The New Yorker

Then he made a mistake.

The New York Times

Sven, he made a mistake.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Made a mistake" when directly acknowledging a specific error or lapse in judgment you or someone else committed.

Common error

While "Made a mistake" is perfectly acceptable in many contexts, consider using more formal alternatives such as "Committed an error" or "Erred" in professional or academic writing to maintain a higher degree of formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Made a mistake" functions as a verb phrase indicating the commission of an error or fault. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Made a mistake" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to acknowledge an error. Ludwig AI confirms its wide applicability, though formal contexts may benefit from alternatives like "committed an error". It's frequently found in news, media, and general conversational contexts. While versatile, be mindful of the tone required by your writing context. When in doubt, consider whether a more formal phrasing might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Committed an error

Highlights the action of performing or carrying out a mistake.

Erred

Refers to having made an error or deviation from what is correct or right; emphasizes the act of deviating.

Slipped up

Emphasizes a minor or unintentional mistake.

Was in error

Indicates a state of being wrong or incorrect.

Misjudged

Points to a poor decision based on flawed assessment.

Lapsed

Implies a temporary failure of judgment or a slip in conduct.

Miscalculated

Focuses on errors in computation or estimation.

Blundered

Suggests a clumsy or foolish mistake.

Flubbed

Implies a bungled or poorly executed action.

Goofed up

Suggests a silly or trivial mistake.

FAQs

How can I use "Made a mistake" in a sentence?

You can use "Made a mistake" to acknowledge an error. For example, "I "realized I made a mistake" in my calculations and need to correct it."

What are some alternatives to saying "Made a mistake"?

You can use alternatives like "committed an error", "erred", or "was in error" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "Made a mistake" in formal writing?

While acceptable, consider more formal alternatives such as "committed an error" or "erred" in formal contexts to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "Made a mistake" and "committed an error"?

"Made a mistake" is more conversational, while "committed an error" is more formal and often preferred in professional or academic settings.