grave misjudgment

USAGE SUMMARY

"grave misjudgment" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used to describe a serious or significant mistake or error in judging a situation or making a decision. Example: The CEO's grave misjudgment in investing all the company's funds in one risky venture led to its downfall.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Emily Thornberry's tweet was a grave misjudgment, but her error was informed by widely held prejudice that is encapsulated by the stereotype "white van man".

The Guardian

One has to ask if the exhibition was poorly calculated on the part of Kardon, Barrie, and others who supported it, a grave misjudgment in terms of what American audiences needed or were prepared to see.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Syria now appears to be Mr Cameron's gravest misjudgment yet.

The Guardian

12.13pm BST Nigel Farage, the Ukip leader, has described Syria as David Cameron's "gravest misjudgment yet".

The Guardian

In one of the gravest misjudgments in journalism this year, today the Spectator has made the book's British publication its cover story, with the headline "Relax: Global Warming is all a myth".

The Guardian

Let he who is without grave sartorial misjudgment cast the first piece of obsolete technology to hand, I guess.

The Guardian - Books

But that would be out of character, as his own account reminds us of one grave political misjudgment after another.

The Guardian - Opinion

Everything is exactly as it should be, every small elvish detail attended to, but, as Kate's heart fills with the pleasure of it all, she is made uneasy by the realization that she could have but did not secure this for her child, and therein lies a misjudgment, a possibly grave mistake.

The New Yorker

In such cases, attentional modulation must continue to be meaningful; otherwise, misjudgments can occur with potentially grave consequences.

Cognitive Computation

It was another misjudgment.

The Guardian - Business

This is spectacular misjudgment.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grave misjudgment" to underscore the seriousness and potential consequences of an error. This phrase is particularly effective when criticizing decisions with significant negative impacts.

Common error

Avoid using "grave misjudgment" for trivial errors or minor mistakes. The phrase's weight should match the significance of the error being described; reserve it for situations with serious repercussions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grave misjudgment" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "grave" intensifies the noun "misjudgment". It describes a specific instance of flawed decision-making. Ludwig confirms this is a valid and usable phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grave misjudgment" is a grammatically sound and semantically strong phrase used to describe a severe error in judgment. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is an appropriate phrase to use when describing significant mistakes with noteworthy consequences. While considered relatively rare in overall usage, this phrase appears most frequently in news and media sources, suggesting its prominence in analyzing serious events. When using this phrase, it is crucial to ensure that the magnitude of the error warrants such a strong term to avoid diluting its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious error in judgement

Replaces "misjudgment" with a more general term for error, maintaining the sense of flawed decision-making.

critical lapse in judgement

Substitutes "grave" with "critical" and "misjudgment" with "lapse", emphasizing the severity of the error.

significant failure of judgement

Uses "failure" instead of "misjudgment", focusing on the negative outcome of the poor decision.

major error in decision-making

Replaces "misjudgment" with the broader term "decision-making", highlighting the faulty process.

severe mistake in assessment

Shifts the focus to the "assessment" aspect of the error, implying a flawed evaluation of a situation.

egregious blunder

Replaces both words with stronger synonyms to amplify the magnitude of the mistake.

colossal mistake

Uses "colossal" to emphasize the large scale of the error.

catastrophic miscalculation

Highlights the potential disastrous outcomes of the faulty judgment.

monumental oversight

Focuses on the aspect of neglecting crucial information or factors.

grievous error

Uses "grievous" to convey a sense of deep regret or suffering caused by the mistake.

FAQs

How can "grave misjudgment" be used in a sentence?

You can use "grave misjudgment" to describe a serious error in decision-making that leads to significant negative consequences. For example: "The company's failure was due to a "grave misjudgment" in its investment strategy".

What are some alternatives to "grave misjudgment"?

Some alternatives include "serious error in judgement", "critical lapse in judgement", or "significant failure of judgement". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "grave misjudgment" a formal or informal expression?

"Grave misjudgment" is generally considered a formal expression, suitable for serious discussions in professional, academic, or news contexts. It's less appropriate for casual conversation.

What distinguishes "grave misjudgment" from a simple "mistake"?

"Grave misjudgment" implies a more severe and consequential error than a simple "mistake". It suggests a significant lapse in judgment that results in substantial negative outcomes, whereas a "mistake" can be minor and easily corrected.