fateful mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fateful mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a mistake that has significant consequences or implications. Example: "The decision to ignore the warning proved to be a fateful mistake that changed the course of their lives."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Nonetheless, with benefit of hindsight, the headscarf ban can be seen as a fateful mistake.

The Guardian

But America will make a fateful mistake if it tries to overpower or isolate China.

The New York Times

In what proved a fateful mistake, Mr. Manning then turned to Mr. Lamo, who had been convicted of hacking into several large companies, including The Times.

The New York Times

Troy Kent King, made a fateful mistake as his unit approached the outskirts of Nasiriya, a city of 300,000 people about 180 miles southeast of Baghdad.

The New York Times

He was into second place by lap 10 and pressured Rosberg through the first part of the race, the pit stops and up to the German's fateful mistake on lap 29.

BBC

"Rather, it made the fateful mistake of enacting a program that would lead to 'winning without counting the costs'". The review found that there are deep divisions in Australian cricket, most notably lingering bitterness over last year's toxic pay dispute squabble – which led to cricketers striking and a tour of South Africa cancelled.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Are other young adults likely to learn from these cautionary tales and avoid making fateful mistakes of their own?

Huffington Post

Diane Vaughan recreates the steps leading up to that fateful decision, contradicting conventional interpretations to prove that what occurred at NASA was not skullduggery or misconduct but a disastrous mistake.

University of Chicago

In it, she recreates the steps leading up to the fateful launch decision, contradicting conventional interpretations to prove that what occurred at NASA was not skulduggery or misconduct but a disastrous mistake.

University of Chicago

It has all been a horrific mistake, but it seems that once NatWest made its fateful error, and then supplied this incorrect information to one of the main credit reference agencies, the die was cast.

The Guardian - Money

It was a fateful error.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "fateful mistake", ensure the context clearly illustrates the significant negative consequences that stemmed directly from the error.

Common error

Avoid using "fateful mistake" for minor errors with limited repercussions. Reserve this phrase for situations where the mistake had truly significant and lasting negative effects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fateful mistake" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "fateful" modifies the noun "mistake". It describes a mistake that has significant, often negative, consequences. As confirmed by Ludwig, the expression is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fateful mistake" is used to describe an error with significant and often negative consequences. Ludwig confirms that it is grammatically correct and usable. It's most frequently found in News & Media and Academia and is considered to have a neutral to formal tone. Alternatives like "critical error" or "disastrous error" can be used depending on the intended emphasis. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly justifies the use of such strong wording by illustrating the lasting and negative impact of the error, avoiding its use for minor mishaps.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critical error

Focuses on the importance and potential impact of the mistake.

grave error

Emphasizes the serious and significant nature of the error.

consequential error

Highlights the important effects or results of the error.

disastrous error

Emphasizes the catastrophic consequences of the mistake.

pivotal error

Focuses on how the error changed the course of events.

ill-fated decision

Highlights the unfortunate and doomed nature of the decision leading to the negative outcome.

momentous miscalculation

Highlights the far-reaching consequences of the incorrect assessment.

catastrophic blunder

Stresses the immense and devastating impact of the error.

regrettable oversight

Emphasizes the feeling of regret and the nature of the error as something that should have been noticed.

unfortunate misstep

Softens the impact but still acknowledges a negative outcome.

FAQs

How to use "fateful mistake" in a sentence?

Use "fateful mistake" to describe an error that has significant and often negative consequences. For example: "Ignoring the warning signs proved to be a "fateful mistake" that led to the company's downfall."

What can I say instead of "fateful mistake"?

You can use alternatives like "critical error", "disastrous error", or "ill-fated decision" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "fateful mistake" or "fatal mistake"?

"Fateful mistake" implies a mistake that has significant and negative consequences, while "fatal mistake" implies a mistake that leads to death or complete failure. The correct choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "fateful mistake" and "unfortunate error"?

While both describe errors, ""fateful mistake"" suggests that the mistake had significant and far-reaching negative consequences. "Unfortunate error" simply indicates an error that is regrettable but may not have drastic repercussions.