commit a blunder

USAGE SUMMARY

"commit a blunder" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means to make a significant mistake or error. Example: "John committed a blunder by sending the email to the wrong recipient, causing confusion among his colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As long as you don't commit a blunder that will push you to destruction, there is always something good that you can take away from your failure.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

If Mr Huang's account is right, then British diplomacy committed a blunder.

The Economist

"And if we do get attacked, then he will have committed a blunder for the ages".

Independent

Mr Christie, a politician who knows something about charming the public, has probably not committed a blunder.

The Economist

Two years later, however, he committed a blunder: he called early legislative elections, and the Socialist opposition swept into government.

The New York Times

Crown counsel said he had committed a blunder to shame any second rate burglar by leaving his fingerprints on the registration card.

The Guardian

Mr. Raghavan emphasizes gray areas in the case against the CRPF, which makes it difficult to "take a categorical stand which would indict the CRPF for having either committed a blunder or overreacted to an innocuous situation".

The New York Times

But most automotive experts agree that Nissan committed a blunder that it could not correct quickly when it decided in 1981 to drop the widely recognized Datsun brand name.

The New York Times

In [26], authors committed a blunder.

Mathematical Sciences

And if by any means Ravichandran Ashwin stands as a culprit for the Mankading incident, then by going to those standards Dhoni has committed a blunder by tarnishing its image.

Forbes

In their haste, perhaps, they committed a blunder or two of their own.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "commit a blunder", ensure that the context clearly indicates the significance of the mistake. It's best suited for situations where the error has noticeable consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "commit a blunder" for trivial errors or minor mishaps. The phrase implies a significant mistake with potentially negative repercussions, so reserve it for situations that warrant such gravity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "commit a blunder" functions as a verb phrase, where "commit" acts as the main verb and "a blunder" serves as the object. This indicates performing the action of making a significant mistake, as also clarified by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

20%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "commit a blunder" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe making a significant mistake. Ludwig AI confirms its usability. Its usage spans across various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedic content, indicating a relatively broad application. While the phrase isn't highly formal, it's generally appropriate for professional and neutral settings where highlighting a considerable error is necessary. When using this expression, it's essential to ensure the error is truly significant to align with the phrase's inherent gravity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

blunder

This is a synonym, acting as a verb instead of a noun construction.

make a mistake

This is a general and neutral alternative.

make an error

This is a slightly more formal version of "make a mistake".

err

This is a more formal and concise way to say make a mistake.

commit an error of judgment

This specifies that the mistake was due to poor decision-making.

slip up

This indicates making a minor or casual mistake.

fumble

Implies making a mistake through clumsiness or lack of skill.

drop the ball

This idiom suggests failing to fulfill a responsibility.

make a faux pas

This refers to a social blunder.

screw up

This is an informal way to say make a mistake.

FAQs

How can I use "commit a blunder" in a sentence?

You can use "commit a blunder" to describe someone making a significant mistake. For instance: "The politician "committed a blunder" by making controversial statements."

What is a more formal alternative to "commit a blunder"?

A more formal alternative would be to say "make an error" or simply "err", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "commit a blunder" and "make a mistake"?

While both phrases refer to errors, "commit a blunder" suggests a more serious or consequential mistake than simply "make a mistake".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "commit a blunder"?

It's appropriate to use "commit a blunder" when describing a significant error in judgment or action that results in negative consequences. It's not suitable for minor or inconsequential mistakes.