a critical lapse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a critical lapse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant failure or oversight in judgment, performance, or attention to detail. Example: "The investigation revealed a critical lapse in the safety protocols that led to the accident."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The pass defense, which included a critical lapse by the vaunted Jason Sehorn, failed against a Baltimore passing attack that turned out to be livelier than expected.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The critical lapse came when Tanabe irrationally proposed that the "relative absolute" of the Japanese nation could serve as a kind of "supreme archetype" for other nations (see THZ VI, 232 33).

SEP

WASHINGTON — President Trump kept the Iran nuclear deal alive on Thursday as a critical deadline lapsed, a sign that he is stepping back from his threat to abandon an agreement he repeatedly disparaged.

The New York Times

But the appearance of a conflict of interest, and critical lapses in transparency like not initially announcing that Adblock Plus was charging millions of dollars to some companies in the Acceptable Ads program led some users to feel betrayed, and some publishers to compare Eyeo's business model to a mafia protection scheme.

MIT Technology Review

At the Department of Buildings, the report found, there was an "overall breakdown in several key areas," including a lack of coordination with other agencies and critical lapses in training.

The New York Times

Yes, there had been critical lapses in the field.

The Guardian - Sport

In zeroing in on critical lapses by the city's Fire and Buildings Departments, the investigators called for the two agencies to work more closely, especially on sharing information about the construction, demolition and abatement of city buildings.

The New York Times

It also found critical lapses in the investigative role of the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which the safety board said failed to follow up previous accidents at the plant and withheld cooperation in the chemical safety board's investigation.

The New York Times

Many of those, such as providing sailors standing watch with night-vision goggles, were deemed irrelevant, but the investigating officer concluded that roughly 10 others constituted critical lapses, including the positioning of the officer on watch on the quarterdeck and not the bridge, the officials said.

The New York Times

Many children and young people experience critical lapses in their condition which would mean their parents having to act as sole decision-makers working with their clinicians either permanently or until a point is reached when the child recovers sufficiently to re-engage in decision-making on some level.

BMC Pediatrics

Grandal very nearly cost the Dodgers a critical run with a lapse in judgment, the trigger for a heated conversation with Justin Turner in the dugout, so animated that the two had to be separated by teammates.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a failure or mistake, use "a critical lapse" to underscore the importance and potential consequences of the error. This phrase is effective in formal and professional contexts where precision is valued.

Common error

Avoid using "a critical lapse" for minor errors or insignificant oversights. Reserve this phrase for situations where the lapse has substantial consequences or implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a critical lapse" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As indicated by Ludwig, it is used to denote a significant failure or oversight.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a critical lapse" denotes a significant error or oversight with potentially important consequences. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically sound and best suited for formal or professional contexts, such as news reporting, scientific analysis, or academic writing. While semantically similar to phrases like "a major oversight" or "a significant error", it carries a stronger emphasis on the importance and potential impact of the failure. Remember to reserve "a critical lapse" for scenarios where the oversight has substantial ramifications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major oversight

Emphasizes a failure to notice or consider something important.

a significant error

Highlights the presence of a notable mistake.

a crucial failing

Stresses the importance of the failure and its potential consequences.

a serious blunder

Implies a careless or foolish mistake.

a grave mistake

Highlights the severity and potentially damaging consequences of the mistake.

a notable deficiency

Focuses on a lack or shortage of something essential.

a key weakness

Indicates a vulnerability or point of failure.

a pivotal error

Emphasizes the turning-point nature of the mistake and its impact.

a momentous slip-up

Highlights the importance and unexpected nature of the error.

a consequential oversight

Stresses the significant results or effects of the failure to notice.

FAQs

How can I use "a critical lapse" in a sentence?

You can use "a critical lapse" to describe a significant failure or oversight that has important consequences. For instance, "The investigation revealed "a critical lapse" in security protocols."

What are some alternatives to "a critical lapse"?

Some alternatives include "a major oversight", "a significant error", or "a crucial failing", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "a critical lapse" in informal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a critical lapse" is more suited to formal or professional writing. In informal contexts, simpler phrases like "a big mistake" or "a major slip-up" might be more appropriate.

What distinguishes "a critical lapse" from a simple mistake?

"A critical lapse" implies that the error or oversight had significant consequences or implications, whereas a simple mistake might be minor or inconsequential. The term "critical" emphasizes the importance and potential impact of the lapse.