What a blunder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "What a blunder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express surprise or dismay at a mistake or error that has been made. Example: "After realizing the mistake in the report, she exclaimed, 'What a blunder!'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

What a blunder.

Forbes

What a blunder this thing has been, win or lose, what a miscalculation on the part of the president.

Huffington Post

Oh dear, what a blunder.

The Guardian

"Only consider what a blunder you would commit in doing as Cleon recommends.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

46 min: Oh! What a blunder!

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Wells — along with much of the rest of the world — could sense something on the horizon, and he did not like what he saw coming: "You have only to play at Little Wars three or four times to realize just what a blundering thing Great War must be.

The New York Times - Books

What a terrible blunder.

Forbes

It was only when I had children, over a decade later, that I realised what an egregious blunder that was.

The Guardian - Film

Breen points to what he deems a blunder on Scot's part: the bird holds arrows and an olive branch, but carries the arrows in the dexter, or dominant right claw, symbolizing a preference for war over peace.

Wikipedia

What a lamentable concept: the constable blundered so the evidence is lost.

The New York Times

Aho, C. Michael (1989) "More Bilateral Trade Agreements Would Be a Blunder: What the New President Should Do," Cornell International Law Journal: Vol. 22 : No. 1, Article 2.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "What a blunder" to express surprise and disappointment when a significant mistake has occurred, especially one with noticeable consequences. It is suitable for situations where a more formal or critical tone is not necessary.

Common error

Avoid using "What a blunder" in highly formal or professional settings, such as official reports or serious business communications. Opt for more professional alternatives like "a significant error" or "a regrettable mistake" to maintain an appropriate tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "What a blunder" functions as an exclamatory expression. It is used to express a strong feeling of disappointment, surprise, or dismay when someone makes a significant error or mistake. Ludwig confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66.66%

Academia

16.66%

Wiki

8.33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "What a blunder" is an exclamatory expression used to convey surprise, disappointment, or dismay at a significant mistake. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It appears most frequently in News & Media and Academia, suggesting a neutral to informal register. When a more formal tone is needed, alternatives like "significant error" or "regrettable mistake" are more appropriate. While infrequent, its use is validated by various sources, making it a suitable expression for highlighting errors in a conversational manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

What a mistake!

Replaces "blunder" with a more general term for error.

What an error!

Similar to "What a mistake!", using "error" instead.

That was a huge mistake!

A more descriptive way to express the same sentiment.

What a mess!

Indicates a situation is badly handled or has gone wrong.

That was a grave error!

Adds a sense of seriousness or weight to the mistake.

What a botch!

Suggests a task was clumsily or poorly executed.

What a fiasco!

Implies a complete and utter failure, more dramatic than "blunder".

What a failure!

Focuses on the lack of success.

What a regrettable oversight!

Highlights the aspect of negligence or inattention.

How unfortunate!

Expresses regret or disappointment about the error.

FAQs

How can I use "What a blunder" in a sentence?

You can use "What a blunder" to express dismay or recognition of a significant mistake, as in, "After realizing the miscalculation, he exclaimed, "What a blunder!"".

What's a more formal alternative to "What a blunder"?

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "significant error", "regrettable mistake", or "grave error".

Is "What a blunder" suitable for professional communication?

While grammatically correct, "What a blunder" might be perceived as too informal for certain professional settings. Assess the context and audience to determine if a more neutral or serious tone is required.

What are some other exclamatory phrases similar to "What a blunder"?

Similar exclamatory phrases include "What a mistake", "What an error", and "What a mess", each carrying slightly different connotations of error or failure.