acknowledge a mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "acknowledge a mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when admitting to an error or recognizing a fault in a situation or decision. Example: "In our last meeting, I failed to provide the correct data, and I must acknowledge a mistake in my presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

When you acknowledge a mistake, that is an opportunity for learning and growth.

The New York Times

Burton said he was trying to catch up with Gordon to acknowledge a mistake from earlier in the race.

The New York Times - Sports

He said he trusts himself to know the path to victory, when it's time to attack an opponent or acknowledge a mistake.

The Washington Post

It is not so much the churlishness of the retraction ("The Times acknowledges that no nudge was visible on the broadcast") that bothers me, though I would have hoped the paper would have been more willing to acknowledge a mistake.

The New York Times

The Israeli Army chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz, subsequently told a parliamentary committee that the raid had not attained the "intended results," that it would be investigated and that Israel would acknowledge a mistake if one had been made.

The New York Times

Asked about the panel's decision, which was not publicly announced and seemed to acknowledge a mistake of grand proportions, a Pentagon spokeswoman said, "Mr. Bismullah was lawfully detained as an enemy combatant based on the information that was available at the time".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Atlanta's mayor, Kasim Reed, at least acknowledged a "mistake" in not staggering school and office closings.

The Economist

"Apple acknowledged a mistake and they fixed it," Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, said in an interview.

The New York Times - Tech

And, given that the handicapped boy does exist, is it better for him to have his birth acknowledged a mistake?

The New York Times - Magazine

The Goldman settlement involved carefully drafted language acknowledging a "mistake" and "incomplete information" that did not appear to be enough to establish that it committed securities fraud.

The New York Times

"Seventeen innocent people are dead and acknowledging a mistake isn't going to cut it," Mr. Scott said in a statement.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you "acknowledge a mistake", be specific about what went wrong and avoid vague language. This shows sincerity and understanding.

Common error

Don't follow "acknowledge a mistake" with justifications or excuses. A simple admission is more effective than a defensive explanation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "acknowledge a mistake" functions as a verb phrase, where "acknowledge" is the main verb and "a mistake" is the direct object. The Ludwig examples illustrate its use in admitting errors in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "acknowledge a mistake" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, employed when admitting to an error or recognizing a fault. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and suggests alternatives such as "admit an error" or "recognize a fault". The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources and maintains a neutral register. While some might commit the error of following this phrase with justifications, it's considered a best practice to admit mistakes directly and specifically. In conclusion, using "acknowledge a mistake" effectively conveys honesty and accountability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

admit an error

Focuses on the act of admitting, implying a more direct confession of wrongdoing. Less nuanced than acknowledging.

recognize a fault

Emphasizes the recognition of a flaw or imperfection, which may not necessarily be one's own doing.

own up to an error

Highlights taking responsibility for the mistake, suggesting personal accountability.

concede a blunder

Implies reluctantly admitting to a significant and often public mistake.

confess to a misstep

Conveys a sense of admitting to a minor mistake or oversight.

take responsibility for an error

Highlights assuming accountability and the consequences for the mistake.

accept blame for a mistake

Focuses on taking the blame, often in a situation where blame is being assigned.

correct an error

Focuses on fixing the mistake, after knowing an error has been made.

rectify an oversight

Emphasizes the act of correcting a mistake or unintentional omission, typically in a formal setting.

apologize for a failing

Highlights expressing regret and remorse for a mistake or shortcoming, focusing on seeking forgiveness.

FAQs

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

You can use "acknowledge a mistake" to admit an error or oversight. For example, "The company had to acknowledge a mistake in its financial reporting".

What is a more formal way to say "acknowledge a mistake"?

A more formal alternative to "acknowledge a mistake" is "admit an error", which suggests a more direct and perhaps reluctant admission.

Is it better to "acknowledge a mistake" or apologize for it?

Whether to "acknowledge a mistake" or apologize depends on the context. Acknowledging is admitting there was an error. Apologizing expresses remorse. Often, it's best to do both.

What's the difference between "acknowledge a mistake" and "take responsibility for an error"?

"Acknowledge a mistake" means recognizing an error has occurred. "Take responsibility for an error" implies accepting the consequences and blame associated with the mistake.