a slight oversight

USAGE SUMMARY

"a slight oversight" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe a minor mistake or something that has been slightly overlooked. For example, "The project was nearly complete, but there was a slight oversight that caused us to delay the launch."

✓ Grammatically correct

Critical Care

Forbes

BBC

Vice

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Perhaps a slight oversight has been not to explore the allied heath care professional's view, because such staff frequently interact with METs and in certain circumstances are recruited to be an active MET member.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

During this entire process, there was one slight oversight.

Forbes

Despite that slight oversight, the British Overseas Territory marked their historic recognition as the newest member of Uefa by holding Slovakia to a goalless draw in Portugal last November.

BBC

Unfortunately, due to that slight oversight, I'm not going to be able to pull out insightful moments from the book to interpret Katie's collection for you, but I'll do my best to try.

Vice

Bolt's unnoticed arrival was in fact not a slight or an oversight, but a carefully planned national security necessity: in 2008, the official reception for his return from Beijing was mobbed by crowds of thousands and descended into something more like a riot.

The Guardian - Sport

A slight?

The New York Times

A slight smile rose.

The New York Times

A slight pause.

The New York Times - Sports

A slight increase overall.

Nature

A slight pause followed.

The New York Times

A slight breeze.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a slight oversight" to acknowledge a minor mistake without assigning blame or dwelling on its impact. It softens the critique.

Common error

Avoid using "a slight oversight" when the mistake has significant consequences. Overstating its triviality can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a slight oversight" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific instance of something being overlooked, often minimizing the severity of the omission.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a slight oversight" is a noun phrase used to acknowledge a minor mistake or omission. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage for describing minor errors. While relatively rare in frequency, it is appropriate for neutral contexts, and the phrase is found in authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian. When using this phrase, ensure the mistake truly is minor to avoid undermining your credibility. Consider alternatives like "minor error" or "small mistake" depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a minor slip-up

Replaces "oversight" with "slip-up", indicating a small mistake.

a small mistake

Uses more common and simpler words to convey the same meaning.

a trivial error

Substitutes "slight" with "trivial" and "oversight" with "error", emphasizing insignificance.

a pardonable lapse

Replaces "oversight" with "lapse", suggesting a temporary failure in judgment.

a forgivable omission

Focuses on the act of leaving something out unintentionally.

a negligible blunder

Highlights the insignificance of the mistake.

a petty fault

Indicates a minor imperfection or weakness.

a venial sin

Implies a minor wrongdoing or transgression, often used humorously.

a technicality

Suggests a minor detail that was overlooked.

a nothingburger

Informal term indicating something inconsequential made to seem important.

FAQs

How to use "a slight oversight" in a sentence?

You can use "a slight oversight" to acknowledge a small mistake or something that was unintentionally missed. For example, "There was "a slight oversight" in the calculations, but it didn't affect the final result."

What can I say instead of "a slight oversight"?

You can use alternatives like "minor error", "small mistake", or "trivial omission" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "a slight oversight" in formal writing?

Yes, "a slight oversight" can be used in formal writing to acknowledge a small mistake or omission without assigning blame. However, consider alternatives like "minor discrepancy" or "small inaccuracy" for more formal tone.

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

"A slight oversight" refers to a small, easily correctable mistake, while "a major error" indicates a significant mistake with potentially serious consequences.