committed a mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "committed a mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase whenever you wish to indicate that someone has made an error, either intentionally or unintentionally. Example: She committed a mistake when she entered the wrong code into the system.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Then the Steelers committed a mistake.

The New York Times - Sports

Nevertheless, she committed a mistake really," Jehani said.

The Guardian

In its S.E.C. settlement, Goldman acknowledged that its marketing materials "contained incomplete information," and that it committed "a mistake" in leaving the full disclosures out of its marketing documents.

The New York Times

"I call upon those who have been misled or committed a mistake to lay down arms and join their people and security forces in order to liberate their cities," he said in Samarra.

Independent

But a defense lawyer, in his own closing argument, said the officer, Francisco Rosario, was nothing more than a frightened policeman who committed a mistake, not a crime, by giving bad information to the agents.

The New York Times

"I call upon those who have been misled or committed a mistake to lay down arms and join their people and security forces in order to liberate their cities," he said on Sunday during a news conference in Samarra, 60 miles north of Baghdad.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"We believe that the public prosecutor commits a mistake in his report by understanding otherwise … Given the seriousness of the facts … we will act with determination in defence of the honour of Barcelona and its president".

The Guardian - Sport

As more people travel farther, whether for business or pleasure, confusion about tipping and anxiety about committing a mistake have been prompting tipping experts like Mr. Lynn to reassure travelers about the protocol.

The New York Times

If he commits a mistake, the Far East will become an arid land.

Vice

Tell your friend to let you know whenever you commit a mistake in pronouncing it.

WikiHow

Whenever we commit a mistake the most common approach that we take is complete denial of having committed it in the first place or else we just swallow the entire issue and try to forget it.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "committed a mistake", ensure the context clarifies the severity and consequences of the mistake. For serious errors, consider more formal alternatives like "erred" or "was at fault."

Common error

Avoid using "committed a mistake" in highly formal or academic writing; opt for more sophisticated vocabulary such as "erred" or "miscalculated" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "committed a mistake" functions as a verb phrase, indicating that someone has performed an action that resulted in an error. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "committed a mistake" is a grammatically sound and readily understandable expression used to indicate that someone has made an error. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While commonly found in news and media contexts, it also appears in scientific and wiki sources. For more formal settings, alternatives like "erred" or "was at fault" might be more appropriate. Despite its widespread use, the relatively low example count suggests it's not the most frequent way to express this idea; however, its clarity and directness make it a valuable part of one's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made an error

Focuses on the action of making an error, a more general term.

erred

A more formal and concise way of saying someone made a mistake.

was at fault

Emphasizes responsibility or blame for something going wrong.

blundered

Suggests a clumsy or foolish mistake.

miscalculated

Implies an error in judgment or assessment.

took the wrong action

Highlights the incorrectness of the action taken.

acted incorrectly

Focuses on the improper nature of the action.

goofed up

An informal way of saying someone made a mistake, often implying it was not serious.

slipped up

Suggests a minor or unintentional error.

dropped the ball

An idiomatic way of saying someone failed to fulfill their responsibility.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "committed a mistake"?

You can use alternatives like "made an error", "erred", or "was at fault" depending on the context.

Is "committed a mistake" grammatically correct?

Yes, "committed a mistake" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. However, its formality can vary depending on the context.

How do I use "committed a mistake" in a sentence?

You can use "committed a mistake" to describe someone's action that resulted in an error. For example, "The accountant committed a mistake when calculating the company's taxes."

What's the difference between "committed a mistake" and "made a mistake"?

While both phrases are similar, "committed a mistake" sometimes implies a more deliberate or significant error compared to "made a mistake", which can refer to a more general or unintentional error.