but one mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but one mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that there is only a single error or fault in a situation or context. Example: "The presentation was flawless, but one mistake in the data analysis led to confusion among the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Many people have a list when they shop, but one mistake I see is that the items on the list don't add up to well-coordinated meals.

Huffington Post

But one mistake shouldn't wipe you out".

The New York Times - Sports

But one mistake proved costly last night.

The New York Times - Sports

A canny bowler has the chance to ease himself into a Test when rusty but one mistake is all it takes for a batsman.

The Guardian - Sport

Richard Zurek at Nasa's Jet propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, led two Nasa missions that were both lost on Mars in 1999, the Mars Climate Orbiter and the Mars Polar Lander: "You try to do everything you can to make sure it'll work, but one mistake somewhere along the line can be enough to bring it down".

The Guardian

"These may sound trivial but one mistake can be costly and the process of doing this for one app at a time would be expensive.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"We sell over 40,000 products in our stores, with thousands on promotion at any one time, but even one mistake is one too many.

The Guardian - Business

"He threw a great game," Mike Piazza said, "but obviously, one mistake killed us.

The New York Times - Sports

"But just one mistake and you get a wreck like this".

The New York Times - Sports

"We had a great tournament but made one mistake too many," Ballack said.

The New York Times - Sports

And, for example, in the Rugby World Cup, I think the referee [Craig Joubert] in the Scotland game was very good but made one mistake.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "but one mistake", ensure the contrast between the overall context and the error is clear to emphasize its significance.

Common error

Avoid using "but one mistake" when the error is minor or inconsequential. Overemphasizing a trivial mistake can undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but one mistake" functions as a concessive conjunction phrase, indicating a contrast between an overall situation and a single error. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sports

25%

Wiki

8.33%

Less common in

Science

8.33%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but one mistake" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to underscore the importance of a singular error. As Ludwig AI indicates, it commonly appears in news and media contexts, serving to contrast an overall situation with a specific failing. To enhance clarity and impact, consider employing alternatives such as "however, a single error" or "yet, just a single blunder". When using the phrase, be mindful of overstating the significance of minor errors to maintain credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however, a single error

Replaces "but" with "however" and uses "single error" instead of "one mistake".

yet, just a single blunder

Substitutes "but" with "yet" and uses the word "blunder" for mistake.

though, only one fault

Replaces "but" with "though" and "mistake" with "fault".

nevertheless, merely one slip-up

Substitutes "but" with "nevertheless" and uses "slip-up" instead of "mistake".

still, just a solitary error

Replaces "but" with "still" and emphasizes the singularity with "solitary".

even so, only a single oversight

Replaces "but" with "even so" and replaces "mistake" with "oversight".

despite that, only one failing

Replaces "but" with "despite that" and "mistake" with "failing".

nonetheless, just one lapse

Replaces "but" with "nonetheless" and uses "lapse" for mistake.

in spite of everything, a sole mistake

Replaces "but" with "in spite of everything" to heighten the contrast.

however, merely a lone error

Replaces "but" with "however", "one" with "lone" and "mistake" with "error".

FAQs

How can I rephrase "but one mistake" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives such as "however, a single error", "nevertheless, merely one slip-up", or "despite that, only one failing".

Is it always necessary to use "but" before "one mistake"?

No, "but" is not always necessary. You can use phrases like "a single mistake" or "just one error" without the conjunction, depending on the sentence structure and desired emphasis.

When is it appropriate to use "but one mistake" in writing?

Use "but one mistake" when you want to emphasize that a single error significantly affected an otherwise positive situation. It highlights the impact of that specific mistake.

What are some common synonyms for "mistake" that can be used with "but one"?

You can replace "mistake" with synonyms like "error", "blunder", "fault", "oversight", or "lapse" depending on the context.