a core mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a core mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a fundamental error or a significant misjudgment in a particular context. Example: "The team's failure to communicate effectively was a core mistake that led to the project's downfall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But based on this one anecdote containing a core mistake about the SSI program's rules, Kristof concludes that the SSI program sometimes actually "perpetuates" child poverty by motivating -- and causing -- parents to deprive their own kids of their education.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Snap let random Spectacles buyers, often over-enthusiastic social media amateurs, define the image of the product, similar to how Google's core mistake was allowing geeky developers to become the face of Glass.

TechCrunch

"The core mistake – let's take the sick people out of the equation".

Huffington Post

12.17pm GMT Action against Medical Accidents welcomed the new measure making it a statutory duty for NHS staff to own up to their mistakes, a core recommendation from Francis.

The Guardian

Schools which fail to make music a core subject are making a mistake, because it has advantages for the growing brain and would help all children, including those with dyslexia and autism, neuroscientist Professor Nina Kraus said yesterday.

Independent

But the NASA case was not the only one where a mistake involved a core aspect of the court's ruling on an issue with widespread ramifications.

Huffington Post

That is, inattention (a core symptom of ADHD) can easily be mistaken for social inattention (a core symptom of ASD), resulting in inflated co-occurrence rates of both disorders.

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

We all know how it feels to be making a mistake, and the deliciousness of watching other people make one — particularly the mistake of marrying the wrong person — is a core appeal of narratives from "Oedipus" to "Middlemarch".

The New Yorker

"I have a core.

The New York Times

He's a core piece.

The New York Times - Sports

That's a core value".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a core mistake" when you want to emphasize that the error is fundamental and has significant consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "a core mistake" for minor errors. Reserve it for situations where the mistake genuinely impacts the overall outcome or integrity of the process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a core mistake" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a significant error or flaw. As Ludwig AI says, it emphasizes the fundamentality of the error, similar to examples found in the provided data.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a core mistake" is a phrase used to describe a fundamental error with significant consequences. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While its usage is relatively rare, it appears across diverse contexts such as news, science, and general reference. When writing, reserve this phrase for truly impactful errors, and be mindful that more formal alternatives may exist for certain contexts. Although its alternatives may sound more appropriate depending on register, a quick search using Ludwig can contextualize your phrases so that they fit the tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamental error

Replaces "core mistake" with a more straightforward term indicating a basic and significant error.

critical blunder

Substitutes "core" with "critical" and "mistake" with "blunder", emphasizing the severity of the error.

major oversight

Replaces "mistake" with "oversight", suggesting a failure to notice something important.

key misjudgment

Emphasizes that the mistake involves a poor decision or assessment.

central flaw

Highlights that the mistake is a significant defect at the heart of the issue.

basic error

Indicates a simple but significant mistake.

essential fault

Highlights that the mistake is an indispensable issue.

principal defect

Substitutes "mistake" with "defect", suggesting an inherent flaw in the design or process.

primary failure

Replaces "mistake" with "failure", emphasizing the lack of success resulting from the error.

main shortcoming

Indicates a notable weakness or failing.

FAQs

How to use "a core mistake" in a sentence?

You can use "a core mistake" to describe a fundamental error, such as: "The project failed because of "a core mistake" in planning."

What can I say instead of "a core mistake"?

Alternatives to "a core mistake" include "fundamental error", "critical blunder", or "major oversight", depending on the specific context.

Is "a core mistake" a formal expression?

"A core mistake" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, but more formal alternatives like "fundamental error" might be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What's the difference between "a core mistake" and "a simple mistake"?

"A core mistake" implies a fundamental error that significantly affects the outcome, while "a simple mistake" refers to a minor error that is easily corrected and has limited impact.