careless errors

USAGE SUMMARY

"careless errors" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to mistakes made due to lack of attention or care. For example, "The student's careless errors cost them points on the exam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

Then there are the careless errors.

The New York Times - Books

Then the Magic disintegrated behind a wave of missed free throws, turnovers and careless errors.

The New York Times - Sports

The modification implements an error-handling mechanism which lowers the incidence of an expert's careless errors.

Journal of Mathematical Psychology

In later editions the author's intentions can be obscured by careless errors or misinterpretations.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Others at the symposium worried, however, that the decision might have encouraged sloppy journalism by insulating careless errors from liability.

The New York Times

When Barcelona sat back, Atlético's Sergio Agüero and Diego Forlán punished its careless errors to make it 4-2.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Google said the violation was the result of a "careless error".

The New York Times - Tech

He was determined not to let a careless error of judgment distract from a triumphant occasion.

The New Yorker

The notion of this as a "glitch" or careless error is a tough pill to swallow.

The Guardian - Opinion

His failure to avoid the water was a careless error, something he found hard to tolerate.

The New York Times - Sports

I had two wrong answers on the math part of the exam (the other was a careless error).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When proofreading, try reading your work backwards. This can help you focus on individual words and catch "careless errors" that you might miss when reading for meaning.

Common error

While spell check is helpful, it won't catch all "careless errors". It may miss words that are spelled correctly but used in the wrong context (e.g., "there" instead of "their"). Always proofread manually.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "careless errors" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes mistakes that stem from a lack of attention or diligence. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently encountered in writing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

16%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "careless errors" is a commonly used and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe mistakes resulting from a lack of attention or diligence. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a well-established expression. Its primary function is descriptive and often critical, appearing frequently in news and media, as well as in academic and scientific contexts. While "careless errors" maintains a neutral register, related phrases like "negligent mistakes" or "avoidable mistakes" can offer nuances in meaning, as well as phrases such as "oversights" which can replace it with one single word. When writing, it's important to remember that even with spell check, manual proofreading is crucial to avoid such errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

negligent mistakes

Replaces "careless" with "negligent" and "errors" with "mistakes", suggesting a failure to exercise a reasonable level of care.

unintentional mistakes

Emphasizes that the mistakes were not deliberate.

oversights

Uses a single word to represent the idea of errors due to inattention.

inadvertent errors

Focuses on the unintentional nature of the errors.

avoidable mistakes

Emphasizes that the errors could have been prevented with more attention.

unforced errors

Commonly used in sports and other contexts to describe errors that are not caused by external pressure.

preventable errors

Highlights the fact that these mistakes could have been stopped from happening.

avoidable blunders

Combines the preventability of the error with the significance of a blunder.

slip-ups

Uses a more informal term for minor errors.

blunders

Implies more significant or embarrassing errors.

FAQs

How to use "careless errors" in a sentence?

"Careless errors" refers to mistakes made due to a lack of attention or diligence. For example: "The report was marred by several "careless errors"." or "The team lost due to a series of "careless errors" in the final minutes."

What can I say instead of "careless errors"?

You can use alternatives like "negligent mistakes", "avoidable mistakes", or simply "oversights" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "careless errors" or "careless mistakes"?

Both "careless errors" and "careless mistakes" are correct and commonly used. The choice often depends on personal preference or the specific nuance you want to convey. They are largely interchangeable.

What's the difference between "careless errors" and "intentional mistakes"?

"Careless errors" are unintentional mistakes resulting from a lack of attention, while "intentional mistakes" are deliberate actions taken knowing they are incorrect. The former is due to negligence; the latter is a conscious choice.