act of omission

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "act of omission" is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to describe when someone has chosen not to do something, which is usually seen as a negative action. For example, "The CEO's act of omission in addressing the issue led to a decline in customer confidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

But it is bloodless and, at worst, an act of omission on the player's part.

The New York Times - Tech

As striking, if not more so, was a deliberate act of omission.

The Guardian - Opinion

For a national academy that has achieved relatively little, its most fatal act of omission turned out to be its silence on the matter of the murder of M Kalburgi, a Kannada literary critic and a Sahitya Akademi prizewinner, by a young rightwing Hindu zealot.

The Guardian - Books

Missed nursing care is considered an act of omission with potentially detrimental consequences for patients, nurses, and organizations.

International Journal of Nursing Studies

Not asking questions, he believes, is as much of a conscious act of omission as failing to settle up with HMRC.

BBC

Note, for example, the absence of Rdio from the list; with a simple act of omission, it becomes that much harder for Rdio (or, more importantly, any up-and-coming streaming service that may enter the market) to pull in any of T-Mobile's 50 million customers.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"It involves acts of omission and commission".

The New York Times

What's the difference between acts of omission and of commission in the case of US authorities in Iraq Iraqq war logs, 23 October)?

The Guardian

Perhaps the Myanmar example is anomalous in that it involves a natural disaster and a malefactor government's acts of omission, not commission.

The New York Times - Magazine

In her debut novel Acts of Omission (John Murray, £14.99), former BBC journalist Terry Stiastny proves herself a skilful prose stylist and a connoisseur of telling details.

The Guardian - Books

There is, of course, a distinction between acts of omission and commission, but the court of appeal's twin assertions of female autonomy and the indivisibility of mother and foetus undermine the logic of the criminal law.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "act of omission", clearly specify the context and consequences of the inaction to emphasize its impact. For example, "The board's act of omission regarding safety regulations led to the accident."

Common error

Be careful not to confuse "act of omission" (not doing something) with "act of commission" (doing something wrong). An "act of omission" implies a failure to act when action was needed, while an "act of commission" involves an improper action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "act of omission" functions primarily as a noun phrase, serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific instance or event characterized by a failure to perform a required or expected action. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and appropriate for describing inaction.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "act of omission" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a failure to perform a necessary or expected action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s appropriate for highlighting instances where inaction leads to negative consequences. Usage patterns reveal that while it appears across different registers, it's most prevalent in scientific, news, and formal business contexts, suggesting a relatively serious tone. Remember to distinguish it from "act of commission" and clearly outline the consequences of the inaction when using this phrase. Alternatives like "failure to act" or "instance of neglect" can be considered depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failure to act

Focuses on the failure to take any action at all.

instance of neglect

Emphasizes the negligence aspect of not acting.

failure to intervene

Highlights the lack of intervention in a situation.

oversight

Implies an unintentional failure to notice or do something.

dereliction of duty

Indicates a failure to fulfill one's responsibilities.

non-action

A more direct and simple way of saying not acting.

breach of responsibility

Highlights a violation of expected duties.

instance of default

Focuses on failing to meet an obligation.

lapse in judgment

Suggests a temporary failure to make a sound decision, leading to inaction.

omission

A shorter and more general term for leaving something out or not doing it.

FAQs

How can I use "act of omission" in a sentence?

You can use "act of omission" to describe a situation where someone failed to do something that they should have done. For example, "The company's "act of omission" in reporting the safety hazard resulted in serious consequences."

What's the difference between "act of omission" and "act of commission"?

"Act of omission" refers to a failure to do something, while "act of commission" refers to doing something wrong. The first is an inaction, and the second is an action. For example, forgetting to lock the door is an "act of omission", while breaking into a house is an act of commission.

Are there any synonyms for "act of omission"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "failure to act", "instance of neglect", or "non-action" depending on the specific context.

Is "act of omission" a legal term?

Yes, "act of omission" is often used in legal contexts to describe a failure to perform a legal duty, which can result in liability. It is often contrasted with "act of commission", which refers to performing an illegal act.