a significant miscalculation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant miscalculation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing an error in judgment or estimation that has considerable consequences or implications. Example: "The team's decision to underestimate the project's timeline was a significant miscalculation that led to delays and increased costs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But on the second, it is now clear that they made what even they admit was a significant miscalculation.

The New York Times

Moreover, the government holds all the regulatory powers, as well as controlling the Supreme Court, whose rulings seldom challenge its interests.Has Mr Chávez made a significant miscalculation, which could affect his apparently firm grip on power?

The Economist

At the same time, however, both Mr. Mubarak and King Abdullah are expected to forcefully tell Secretary Powell that the Bush administration will make a significant miscalculation if it seeks to discredit Mr. Arafat before his people and tries to work with other political figures in the Palestinian movement.

The New York Times

In a society that has embraced the insignia of fashion designers, sports teams and corporate sponsors as status symbols, the failure of the Police and Fire Departments to anticipate and capitalize on the value of their trademarks until more than two months after the disaster could be viewed as a significant miscalculation.

The New York Times

This single error inflated the alleged "exposure" rate by 7,000%, a significant miscalculation.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Mr. Kim's small-plates approach leads to one significant miscalculation.

The New York Times - Food

Ms. Crutchfield's only significant miscalculation was to put distracting stage business immediately behind the singers in the first section of "Pur ti miro," which, however, ended hauntingly.

The New York Times - Arts

The president's pessimism appeared to be an acknowledgment that the White House had made significant miscalculations in the spending fight.

The New York Times

Drones' killing the wrong people could also be considered a significant failure -- and this can occur for reasons of bad intelligence or of miscalculation by operators.

Huffington Post

But a wrong turn, a miscalculation in time or distance can bring trouble.

Los Angeles Times

"Final Nightshade," a conservative, funereal work, was a miscalculation.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a significant miscalculation" when you want to emphasize that an error in judgment or estimation had important consequences. It's stronger than simply saying "a mistake".

Common error

Avoid using "a significant miscalculation" for minor errors or trivial situations. The word "significant" implies that the mistake had notable repercussions or consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant miscalculation" functions as a noun phrase that describes an error in judgement or estimation. It emphasizes the importance or consequence of the miscalculation. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct and usable expression in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

14%

Encyclopedias

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant miscalculation" is a noun phrase used to describe an error in judgment or estimation that carries important consequences. Ludwig AI validates its grammatical correctness and usability. While not extremely common, it frequently appears in news and media, reflecting its utility in analyzing events and decisions. For alternative phrasing, consider "a major error in judgment" or "a serious lapse in judgment" depending on the context. When using this phrase, ensure that the miscalculation genuinely had a notable impact to justify the use of "significant."

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a major error in judgment

Focuses on the flawed decision-making process rather than just the miscalculation itself; implies a serious mistake.

a serious lapse in judgment

Highlights the failure to exercise sound judgment, implying a deviation from expected standards.

a considerable misjudgment

Emphasizes the flawed assessment or evaluation that led to the error, without necessarily focusing on numerical calculation.

a notable oversight

Points out that something important was missed or not considered, leading to the error.

a critical forecasting error

Specific to situations involving predictions or estimations about the future; highlights the inaccuracy of the forecast.

a gross underestimation

Focuses on the act of estimating something as being smaller or less important than it actually is.

a regrettable oversight

Indicates that the error was unfortunate and caused negative consequences.

an epic blunder

Emphasizes the scale and severity of the mistake, often with a tone of exaggeration or humor.

a costly misreading

Highlights that one wrongly interpreted a situation.

a fateful miscalculation

Suggests that the miscalculation had a significant, often negative, impact on subsequent events.

FAQs

What does "a significant miscalculation" mean?

It refers to an error in judgment or estimation that has important or notable consequences. It's more than just a simple mistake; it implies the error had a real impact.

When is it appropriate to use "a significant miscalculation" in writing?

Use it when you want to emphasize the importance of an error in judgment or estimation and highlight its consequences. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts where precision is valued.

What can I say instead of "a significant miscalculation"?

You can use alternatives like "a major error in judgment", "a serious lapse in judgment", or "a considerable misjudgment" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a significative miscalculation" instead of "a significant miscalculation"?

No, "significative" is less common and typically refers to something that signifies or indicates something else. "Significant" is the correct word to describe a miscalculation that is important or consequential.