a massive oversight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a massive oversight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant mistake or failure to notice something important. Example: "The project's delay was due to a massive oversight in the scheduling process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

I realise this may be a massive oversight on my part, but if I ever come to regret it, it won't be because of the movies.

The Guardian - Film

"Nest's failure to disclose the onboard microphone included in its secure home security system is a massive oversight," said Ray Walsh, a digital privacy expert at BestVPN.com.

The Washington Post

If the company's market research delves into the minutiae of the expression worn by an innocuous blob, ignoring something like the demographic makeup of that blob's fanbase would appear to be a massive oversight.

The Guardian - Tech

It reflects a massive oversight and a lost opportunity.

HuffPost

Developer Dan Nolan broke the issue online in a blog post on Tuesday: "This is a massive oversight by Google.

Huffington Post

"We spoke to a Bell Labs patent attorney who declined to do anything," he says, politely describing what amounts to a massive oversight on the part of his company's legal counsel.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It's a pretty massive oversight when building a device intended for movie watching.

TechCrunch

And when you step back and consider it, that's a breathtakingly massive oversight.

TechCrunch

The scale of the under-reporting - more than half the total income received by the Hain campaign - will shock many party members and raise questions as to how such a massive apparent oversight occurred.

The Guardian

Sarah seems like a very viable candidate – smart, quick-thinking, unabsurd, good talker – but I could also see her being the one who is completely blown apart during the interviews by some sort of catastrophic secret from her past or a massive glaring oversight in her business model.

Vice

She railed repeatedly about government regulations getting in the way of the private sector, then announced that the financial rescue plan "has got to include that massive oversight that Americans are expecting and deserving".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a massive oversight", ensure the context clearly indicates what was overlooked and the potential consequences. For instance, "The company's failure to address security vulnerabilities was a massive oversight, leaving customer data exposed."

Common error

Avoid using "a massive oversight" for minor errors or trivial matters. Reserve it for situations where the oversight has significant repercussions or implications. For example, using "a massive oversight" for a typo in an email would be an overstatement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a massive oversight" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a significant error or omission. Based on Ludwig, the phrase is correct to use. It highlights a failure to notice something important, often with negative consequences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Tech

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a massive oversight" is a noun phrase used to describe a significant and impactful failure to notice something important. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English. While not as common as other similar phrases, it effectively conveys the severity of the error. The phrase is often found in news and media, business contexts, and discussions related to technology. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly explains what was overlooked and the impact of the mistake. Some alternatives include "a significant lapse", "a major blunder", and "a critical error".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant lapse

Emphasizes the failure to maintain a required standard or level of care.

a major blunder

Highlights the seriousness and clumsiness of the mistake.

a critical error

Focuses on the potential consequences of the mistake.

a gross negligence

Implies a severe lack of attention or care, often with legal connotations.

a huge mistake

A more general term for a large error, lacking the nuance of "oversight".

a serious failing

Highlights a deficiency or inadequacy in performance or execution.

a glaring omission

Emphasizes that something important was left out or ignored.

a monumental screwup

A more informal and stronger term for a significant mistake.

a terrible slip-up

Suggests a mistake that was easily avoidable and has negative consequences.

a major miscalculation

Focuses on an error in judgment or planning.

FAQs

What does "a massive oversight" mean?

The phrase "a massive oversight" refers to a significant failure to notice or consider something important, leading to potential negative consequences. It implies a serious error of omission.

How can I use "a massive oversight" in a sentence?

You can use "a massive oversight" to describe a situation where someone failed to notice something crucial. For example, "Failing to back up the server was "a massive oversight" that led to data loss."

What are some alternatives to saying "a massive oversight"?

You can use alternatives like "a significant lapse", "a major blunder", or "a critical error" depending on the context.

Is "a massive oversight" the same as "a slight oversight"?

No, "a massive oversight" implies a significant and impactful error, whereas "a slight oversight" refers to a minor and less consequential mistake. The term "massive" amplifies the severity of the oversight.