a true mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a true mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that a mistake was genuine and not intentional or fabricated. Example: "It was a true mistake when I sent the email to the wrong recipient."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Forbes

Sports

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

He called his suspension by the sport's governing body, the International Cycling Union (UCI), "a true mistake".

The Guardian - Sport

Don't misunderstand: saying you're sorry can be powerful, if you are admitting a true mistake.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Our only true mistake," Fassel said, "would be to keep a player because you drafted him when a guy beat him out for the job".

The New York Times - Sports

Some have offered psychologizing explanations for Olbermann's own behavior, but his true mistake may have been his decision to go after the Penn State collective as a whole, even when he was addressing individual students.

The Washington Post

While it was a correct decision by the formulators of the DSM to identify conditions, such as intellectual disability, autism, ADHD and language disorders as neurodevelopmental disorders, the true mistake made was to label the rest of the disorders as "mental".

Stanford University

The most spectacular example of incompetence has been the casual attempt to tear apart the NHS, although if Keynesian economists are right, the true mistake will prove to be economic policy.

The Guardian - Arts

Their true mistake, and this is harder to forgive, is to have underestimated the risk for their organizations.

Forbes

It led Labov to push for raising reading standards among children whose way of speaking set them at a disadvantage; he encouraged instructors to distinguish between true mistakes in reading and a kid simply using his or her own dialect.

The Washington Post

My experience with the Ultra High Speed HDMI Cable reinforced something I've always believed is true: Mistakes that you own are welcome because they make you aware of things you should know but don't.

Forbes

We can also mistake a true hypothesis for a mere opportunity.

Forbes

However, an inverse step at the cavity margin may also be mistaken as a true marginal gap, exposing enamel and/or dentine.

Clinical Oral Investigations

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ stronger synonyms like "blunder" or "oversight" to convey the severity or nature of the mistake more precisely.

Common error

Avoid overuse of "true" as an intensifier. While "a true mistake" can be appropriate, excessive use of "true" to describe other nouns can weaken your writing. Opt for more descriptive adjectives to add specificity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a true mistake" functions as a noun phrase, where "true" modifies the noun "mistake". It serves to emphasize the genuineness and unintentional nature of the error, a function supported by Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Forbes

25%

Sports

25%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a true mistake" is grammatically correct and functions as a noun phrase emphasizing the genuineness of an error. According to Ludwig, it is most commonly found in News & Media, Forbes and Sports, and its register is neutral, making it suitable for various professional and informative contexts. While the phrase is not particularly common, using alternatives like "an honest mistake" or "a genuine error" can provide similar emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a genuine error

Replaces "mistake" with "error" and "true" with "genuine" while maintaining the meaning of an authentic mistake.

an honest mistake

Substitutes "true" with "honest", conveying the mistake was unintentional and sincere.

an actual mistake

Replaces "true" with "actual" to emphasize that the mistake really happened.

a real blunder

Replaces "mistake" with "blunder", indicating a significant or clumsy error, and "true" with "real" reinforcing the genuineness.

a legitimate oversight

Replaces "mistake" with "oversight", suggesting the error was due to inattention, and "true" with "legitimate" confirming its validity.

an undeniable fault

Substitutes "mistake" with "fault", suggesting a responsibility or failing, and "true" with "undeniable" to highlight the mistake's incontrovertibility.

a bona fide error

Uses the Latin term "bona fide" instead of "true", emphasizing the authenticity and good faith of the mistake.

a veritable misstep

Replaces "mistake" with "misstep", implying a stumble or fault, and "true" with "veritable" to underscore the realness of the mistake.

a plain mistake

Uses "plain" instead of "true" to indicate the mistake is obvious and not embellished.

a clear error

Emphasizes the mistake's obviousness rather than its authenticity.

FAQs

How can I use "a true mistake" in a sentence?

You can use "a true mistake" to describe an action or decision that was genuinely an error, such as, "Sending the email to the wrong address was "a true mistake", and I apologize for any inconvenience."

What are some alternatives to saying "a true mistake"?

You can use alternatives like "an honest mistake", "a genuine error", or "a legitimate oversight", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "a true mistake"? Can't all mistakes be assumed to be true?

While mistakes are generally understood as unintentional errors, using "true" can emphasize the sincerity and lack of malicious intent behind the error. It clarifies that it wasn't a deliberate act.

What's the difference between "a true mistake" and "a deliberate error"?

"A true mistake" implies an unintentional action, while "a deliberate error" suggests a purposeful action intended to cause a fault or incorrect result. They are antonyms.