a regrettable lapse

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a regrettable lapse" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a mistake or oversight that is unfortunate or disappointing. Example: "The team acknowledged a regrettable lapse in their communication, which led to the project's delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"Yes, that was a regrettable lapse in security".

The Guardian

It was a regrettable lapse by a respected and experienced broadcaster.

The Guardian

Guido Westerwelle, the German foreign minister, opined that Mr Orbán's statement was "a regrettable lapse that we clearly reject".

The Economist

The Guardian also did the same last Saturday, which was described by the readers' editor as "a regrettable lapse".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Cameron's unforced error in damaging relations with Europe's mainstream centre right leaders, including the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, and splitting his MEPs over who they sit next to in the European parliament may now seem a rare, regrettable lapse into taking a policy decision.

The Guardian - Opinion

"But of course we must learn the lessons from what was a very regrettable lapse of security and that needs to be dealt with, and the lessons need to be learned".

The Guardian

It was a regrettable oversight.

Forbes

He is, however, not a lawyer, and in "John Marshall: The Man Who Made the Supreme Court," his focus is on politics, not law: "I keep my eye, as Marshall always did, on the politics that surrounded him". It's an understandable, but regrettable, lapse.

The Washington Post

Jenkins's judicious narrative has one regrettable lapse: It gives short shrift to Bush v. Gore.

The New York Times - Books

The food itself was generally exemplary, although there were regrettable lapses there, too.

The New York Times

Are these judgments objective assessments, or regrettable lapses into tribalism, ethnocentrism, xenophobia, and prejudice?

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a regrettable lapse", ensure that the context clearly identifies what caused the lapse and why it is considered regrettable. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a regrettable lapse" as a way to gloss over a serious issue without taking concrete action. Follow up with specific steps to prevent similar lapses in the future to show genuine remorse and commitment to improvement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a regrettable lapse" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "regrettable" modifies the noun "lapse". This phrase typically identifies and characterizes an error or failure as unfortunate. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's frequently used in contexts involving security or policy failures.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Academia

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a regrettable lapse" is a phrase used to describe an unfortunate error or oversight. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and commonly used in neutral contexts such as news and media. When using this phrase, it's important to provide context to clarify the cause and consequences of the lapse. Alternatives include "an unfortunate error" or "a disappointing oversight", as these alternatives may better fit the tone of certain conversations. While "a regrettable lapse" is appropriate for acknowledging a mistake, avoid overusing it as a passive apology without taking concrete steps to prevent future occurrences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an unfortunate error

Replaces "regrettable" with "unfortunate", emphasizing the negative consequence of the error.

a disappointing oversight

Substitutes "lapse" with "oversight" and "regrettable" with "disappointing", focusing on the failure to notice something important.

a regrettable mistake

Replaces "lapse" with "mistake", a more general term for an error.

an unfortunate slip-up

Uses "slip-up" instead of "lapse", implying a minor and unintentional mistake.

a lamentable error

Substitutes "regrettable" with "lamentable", highlighting the sorrow or regret associated with the error.

a deplorable mistake

Emphasizes the negative impact and blameworthiness of the mistake.

an unfortunate incident

Replaces both words with more general terms to describe an event that is unwanted.

a serious error

Emphasizes the importance and consequence of the error, replacing regrettable with serious.

a significant failure

Focuses on the lack of success implied by the "lapse", highlighting the importance of what was missed.

a critical oversight

Highlights the importance of what was missed and considered the negligence.

FAQs

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

You can use "a regrettable lapse" to describe an unfortunate error or oversight. For example, "There was "a regrettable lapse" in security during the event."

What are some alternatives to "a regrettable lapse"?

Alternatives include "an unfortunate error", "a disappointing oversight", or "a regrettable mistake", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "a regrettable lapse" formal or informal?

"A regrettable lapse" is generally considered neutral to formal and can be used in professional or news contexts. It is suitable for situations where you need to acknowledge an error without being overly casual.

What makes something "a regrettable lapse" rather than just a mistake?

Calling something ""a regrettable lapse"" implies that the error had negative consequences or caused disappointment. It suggests that the error was particularly unfortunate and could have been avoided with better attention or procedures.