a miscommunication

USAGE SUMMARY

"a miscommunication" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to any instance of miscommunication between two or more people. For example: "The disagreement between Katie and John was caused by a miscommunication."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was a miscommunication.

The New York Times

But there was a miscommunication.

The New York Times

"It wasn't a miscommunication.

The New York Times - Sports

"Just a miscommunication," Coleman said.

The New York Times - Sports

Never a miscommunication.

The Guardian

"A miscommunication," Manningham said.

The New York Times - Sports

"That was a miscommunication," D'Antoni said.

The New York Times - Sports

It was just kind of a miscommunication.

The New York Times - Sports

"Obviously, there was a misunderstanding, a miscommunication".

The New York Times

"It was a miscommunication," Edwards said later.

The New York Times - Sports

He says his words were a "miscommunication".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a miscommunication", be specific about the parties involved and the subject matter to provide clarity and avoid further confusion.

Common error

Avoid assuming malicious intent when describing "a miscommunication". Focus on the factual breakdown of information rather than speculating about motives.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a miscommunication" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. As supported by Ludwig, it denotes a specific instance where communication has failed or been misunderstood.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a miscommunication" is a frequently used noun phrase that denotes a specific instance of failed or misunderstood communication. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in various contexts. The phrase appears most commonly in news and media, often used to explain discrepancies or errors. When using "a miscommunication", it's best practice to be specific about who was involved and what the miscommunication concerned. While alternatives such as "a misunderstanding" or "a communication breakdown" exist, "a miscommunication" provides a clear and neutral way to acknowledge a breakdown in the exchange of information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a misunderstanding

This alternative emphasizes the lack of shared understanding between parties.

a communication breakdown

This alternative highlights a complete failure in the ability to communicate effectively.

a failure to communicate

This alternative focuses on the act of failing to convey information properly.

a gap in communication

This alternative suggests that there's missing information or a disconnect in the communication process.

a lack of clarity

This alternative points to the absence of clear and understandable information.

a divergence of interpretations

This alternative underscores that different parties understood the same information differently.

an error in communication

This alternative focuses on the mistake that caused the miscommunication.

a crossed wire

This alternative uses an idiomatic expression to describe confusion and disorder in communication.

a slip-up in communication

This alternative describes a small mistake during the communication process.

a disconnect

This alternative emphasizes a lack of connection or shared understanding.

FAQs

How to use "a miscommunication" in a sentence?

You can use "a miscommunication" to describe situations where a message was not received or understood as intended. For example, "The project delay was due to "a miscommunication" between the design and engineering teams."

What can I say instead of "a miscommunication"?

You can use alternatives like "a misunderstanding", "a communication breakdown", or "a failure to communicate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a miscommunication" or "miscommunication"?

Both are correct, but "a miscommunication" is used to refer to a specific instance of miscommunication. "Miscommunication" refers to the general concept.

What's the difference between "a miscommunication" and "a mistake"?

"A mistake" refers to an error in general, while "a miscommunication" specifically refers to an error in the exchange of information between two or more parties.