elementary blunder

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "elementary blunder" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a basic or simple mistake that is often considered obvious or fundamental. Example: "The scientist made an elementary blunder in her calculations, which led to incorrect results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Geach also points out another elementary blunder in the exchange of letters with Lewis Carroll, when Cook Wilson claimed that it is not possible to 'know' that 'Some S is P' without knowing which S it is which is P (Carroll 1977, 376).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

And when it finally does come to power, it tosses perks and contracts to its chums and makes elementary blunders.

Independent

8.01pm BST 16 min: There are hints of exciting things to come but so far there has been too much inaccuracy and too many elementary blunders for this game to take off.

The Guardian - Sport

Reinhart and Rogoff, the authors of the 2011 best-seller "This Time is Different: Eight Centuries of Financial Folly," omitted relevant data, weighted their calculations in an unusual manner, and made an elementary coding blunder.

The New Yorker

It is a blunder to mistake the Holy Scriptures for elementary textbooks of astronomy, geology, biology, and anthropology.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Carl Zimmer's review of "Brilliant Blunders," by Mario Livio (June 9), claims that the Nobel Prize-winning chemist Linus Pauling "made an elementary error" in chemistry in his failed attempt to elucidate the structure of DNA.

The New York Times - Books

A blunder.

The New York Times

His blunder?

The New York Times - Health

What Blunder?

The New York Times - Sports

This was a technocratic blunder.

Columbia University

Blunder after blunder undermined its chances.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "elementary blunder", ensure the context clearly establishes that the mistake was indeed basic or easily avoidable. This reinforces the impact and highlights the importance of attention to detail.

Common error

Avoid using "elementary blunder" to describe complex or nuanced errors. Overstating the simplicity of a mistake can diminish the seriousness of the situation and undermine your credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "elementary blunder" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "elementary" modifies the noun "blunder". It describes the type of mistake made, indicating it was basic or fundamental. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33.3%

Science

33.3%

Academia

33.3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "elementary blunder" denotes a basic or fundamental mistake. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While not overly common, it finds usage across various contexts, including news, science, and academia. To avoid misusing it, ensure the error is genuinely simple and avoid exaggerating its impact. Synonyms such as "basic mistake" or "simple error" can provide alternative ways to express the same idea.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

basic mistake

Replaces 'elementary' with 'basic', emphasizing the simplicity of the error.

simple error

Substitutes both words with synonyms that convey ease and fault, respectively.

fundamental mistake

Replaces 'elementary' with 'fundamental', highlighting the foundational nature of the error.

rookie mistake

Indicates the error is typical of someone new or inexperienced.

beginner's error

Similar to "rookie mistake", but emphasizes lack of experience.

obvious error

Highlights that the error was easily noticeable or avoidable.

clear mistake

Indicates the mistake is easily perceivable or understandable.

negligent mistake

Implies that the error resulted from a lack of due care.

careless mistake

Highlights the lack of attention or caution that led to the error.

oversight

Focuses on the accidental nature of the mistake, something that was missed.

FAQs

What does "elementary blunder" mean?

An "elementary blunder" refers to a basic or fundamental mistake, often implying the error was easily avoidable or should have been obvious.

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

You might say, "The analyst committed an elementary blunder in their calculations, leading to incorrect predictions." /s/incorrect+predictions

What are some synonyms for "elementary blunder"?

Alternatives include "basic mistake", "simple error", or "fundamental error". You can find more options at "basic mistake", "simple error" or "fundamental error".

Is "elementary blunder" a formal or informal expression?

The phrase "elementary blunder" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the overall tone of the writing or conversation.