a major underestimation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a major underestimation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a situation where the significance or impact of something has been significantly undervalued or miscalculated. Example: "The report revealed a major underestimation of the project's costs, leading to budget overruns."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Cornered and injured, the tiger often lashes out at someone". Officially, there are about 40 human deaths a year from tigers in the Bangladeshi Sunderbans but this is a major underestimation, he says.

The Guardian

That proved a false dawn, however, and also a major underestimation of Wakefield, who regained the lead in the 18th minute with the try of the match, Rooney and Matt Blaymire handling superbly in the driving rain for the supporting Paul March to hand off Horne and slide over near the posts.

The Guardian - Sport

The number of livestock thought to be in the area was significantly higher than official figures, which led to a major underestimation of the number of livestock requiring feeding and evacuation.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Calculating with DTA thus assumes the use of secondary smelting technology for primary smelting leading to a major underestimation for the sector.

Environmental Science & Technology

Considering that subjects in the present study had a mean BMD ≥ 1.14 g/cm and a mean subcutaneous fat of ≥ 17.4 L, it is unlikely that there was a major underestimation of BMD, if at all.

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Because the effects of the treatment are significant, it is important that the reliability of the measurements be well recorded to avoid major underestimation or overestimation of the changes that can be produced by observer error.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

A major problem concerns underestimation, both on the clinical and microbiological level, of the cases of microbial pathogens introduced by internationally adopted children.

European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

The analyses did not account for intake of salt from food, a major source, and our data are therefore an underestimation of intake.

Environmental Health Perspectives

This often occurs following a major injury in which there is internal bleeding, leading to underestimation of true blood loss and therefore to inadequate transfusion.

Britannica

Underestimation of deaths contributes to VL remaining a major neglected tropical disease.

BMJ Open

Since the extent of perfusion abnormality is critical in deciding which patients would benefit from coronary revascularization, such underestimation of the extent of disease is a major limitation of S-SPECT that needs to be overcome [ 20– 20].

European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a major underestimation", ensure the context clearly indicates what was underestimated and the consequences of this misjudgment. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "a major underestimation" when a simple "underestimation" suffices. Overuse can weaken the impact and make your writing sound less precise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a major underestimation" functions as a noun phrase that serves to identify and describe a situation where something has been significantly undervalued or miscalculated. Ludwig highlights its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a major underestimation" is a grammatically correct and usable expression, albeit relatively rare in occurrence. Ludwig AI validates its use in contexts where a significant undervaluation or miscalculation needs to be emphasized. Its usage spans across scientific, news, and encyclopedic sources, indicating a neutral to professional register. To enhance clarity and impact, ensure the context explicitly states what was underestimated and the resulting consequences. While alternatives like ""a significant undervaluation"" and ""a gross miscalculation"" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant undervaluation

Emphasizes the value aspect of what was underestimated.

a gross miscalculation

Highlights the error in calculation or assessment.

a serious misjudgment

Focuses on the poor judgment involved in the underestimation.

a vast understatement

Indicates that the true extent is much greater than presented.

a considerable misassessment

Stresses the inaccuracy in the initial assessment.

a radical underappreciation

Highlights a lack of understanding or appreciation for the true value.

a dramatic underrating

Emphasizes the extent to which something was rated too low.

a severe discounting

Focuses on the discounting or downplaying of importance.

a substantial belittling

Indicates that something was made to seem less important than it is.

a marked minimizing

Highlights the act of reducing the significance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "a major underestimation" in a sentence?

You can use "a major underestimation" to describe a situation where something was significantly underestimated. For example, "The report revealed "a major underestimation" of the project's costs".

What are some alternatives to "a major underestimation"?

Some alternatives include "a significant undervaluation", "a gross miscalculation", or "a serious misjudgment", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "a major underestimation" instead of "an underestimation"?

"A major underestimation" is appropriate when you want to emphasize that the underestimation was significant or had substantial consequences. It adds more weight than a simple "an underestimation".

What's the difference between "a major underestimation" and "a slight underestimation"?

"A major underestimation" indicates a large discrepancy between the estimated and actual value, while "a slight underestimation" suggests the difference is small and less consequential.