accidental oversight

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "accidental oversight" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a mistake or error that occurred unintentionally, often in the context of forgetting or missing something important. Example: "The delay in the project was due to an accidental oversight in the scheduling process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Thomas Jefferson had approved the territory more than a century before during his tenure as president, but due to an accidental oversight the state had never been formally admitted.

Huffington Post

The audience, with no printed program order for guidance (an accidental oversight, apparently), was left in the dark, unsure when — and whether — to clap.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The Angels, however, by either deliberate or accidental oversight, pass over Nemo and thereby allow him to "remember" different possible futures for himself.

Wikipedia

But taken as a body, and compared to a special intelligence court, they make a precarious, accidental, and arbitrary means of oversight, a nugatory check (devised for its impotence) on operations as massive as those we have seen this president commandeer.

Huffington Post

Our goal in this work was to identify methods to reduce the potential for accidental release of PHI due to oversight.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Mr. Gillett said he did not believe that oversight by state regulators would guarantee safe drilling, and he worries about the accidental contamination of water supplies.

The New York Times

NFGM plants are typically released into the environment, but are grown under special oversight and any among several containment practices, none of which provide full protection against accidental dispersal.

Food and Chemical Toxicology

Areas covered under the UNSCR 1540-required regulatory framework overlap with Georgia's efforts on strengthening the current biosafety, biosecurity, and biocontainment oversight frameworks aimed at decreasing the risk of terrorist/malevolent acquisition of deadly pathogens or accidental release of a biological agent.

BMC Public Health

There have also been increased international efforts to improve awareness of modern practices and concerns with regard to the safe pursuit of life sciences research, and to optimize current oversight frameworks, thereby resulting in decreased risk of terrorist/malevolent acquisition of deadly pathogens or accidental release of a biological agent, and increased safety of laboratory workers.

BMC Public Health

We would like to assure the public that these experiments have been conducted with appropriate regulatory oversight in secure containment facilities by highly trained and responsible personnel to minimize any risk of accidental release.

Science Magazine

Calling the accidental transfer scandalous, the German Taxpayers Association demanded an investigation and recommended paring back the unwieldy, 37-member administrative board to encourage better oversight.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "accidental oversight", ensure the context clearly indicates the lack of intent. Avoid using it when there's suspicion of deliberate negligence.

Common error

Avoid using "accidental oversight" when there is a clear indication that the "oversight" was intentional or due to gross negligence. Use terms like "intentional omission" or "deliberate neglect" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "accidental oversight" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it describes a mistake or error that occurred unintentionally. Examples provided by Ludwig show it in contexts where an unintended omission or error needs to be identified.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "accidental oversight" is a noun phrase used to describe an unintentional error or omission. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It's most frequently found in news, science, and wiki contexts, indicating a neutral register. When using this phrase, ensure the lack of intent is clear to avoid confusion with deliberate negligence. Consider alternatives like "unintentional mistake" or "inadvertent error" depending on the specific nuance required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unintentional mistake

Focuses on the lack of intention behind the error.

inadvertent error

Highlights the carelessness or lack of attention leading to the mistake.

unforeseen omission

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of something being left out.

unintentional slip-up

Suggests a minor and unintentional mistake.

negligent lapse

Implies a failure to exercise sufficient care, resulting in an error.

accidental slip

Focuses on the unintended nature of the mistake.

unintended neglect

Emphasizes lack of deliberate intention.

chance blunder

Highlights randomness of blunder or mistake

fortuitous error

This indicates that the error was by chance or accident.

haphazard mistake

This indicates that the error was careless, but unintentional.

FAQs

How can I use "accidental oversight" in a sentence?

You can use "accidental oversight" to describe a mistake that happened unintentionally, often due to forgetting or missing something important. For example, "The project delay was caused by an accidental oversight in the planning phase".

What's a good alternative to "accidental oversight"?

Alternatives include "unintentional mistake", "inadvertent error", or "unforeseen omission", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "accidental oversight" formal or informal?

"Accidental oversight" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it's more commonly found in professional or neutral communications like news articles or reports.

What's the difference between "accidental oversight" and negligence?

"Accidental oversight" implies a mistake without intent, while negligence suggests a failure to exercise reasonable care, potentially leading to harm. Negligence carries a stronger connotation of responsibility and potential legal consequences.