grave mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grave mistake" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You may use it to describe a mistake that has serious consequences. For example, "It was a grave mistake to leave the window open at night, as burglars were able to enter the house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

This would be a grave mistake.

The New York Times

This would have been a grave mistake.

The New York Times - Arts

I think this is a grave mistake.

The Guardian

Sending such mixed signals is a grave mistake.

The New York Times

The open door to Europe has been a grave mistake.

Independent

Cave told the Leveson inquiry: "It was a grave mistake.

The Guardian

Sinn Féin said the DUP's move was a "grave mistake".

The Guardian

Some are happy to have left the coalition, while some think it was a grave mistake.

The New York Times

Under Taliban rule, he dared to publish a book of his work — a grave mistake.

The New York Times

Given all the conflicts on the planet today, this is an understandable but grave mistake.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

WASTED TIME No Shore EP Grave Mistake.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "grave mistake" when emphasizing the serious or detrimental consequences of an action or decision. It is appropriate when the error has far-reaching or severe implications.

Common error

Avoid using "grave mistake" in contexts where the error is minor or easily rectified. Overusing it can dilute its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grave mistake" functions as a noun phrase that serves to identify and emphasize the severity of an error. As Ludwig shows, it is commonly used to highlight the significant negative consequences of an action or decision.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "grave mistake" is a phrase used to describe a significant error with serious consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. The analysis shows it appears most frequently in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts. To ensure clarity and precision in writing, it's best to use "grave mistake" when the error truly warrants such a strong description, avoiding overuse in minor situations. While similar phrases exist, like "serious error" or "critical blunder", they vary in intensity and nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

serious error

Replaces "mistake" with "error" and "grave" with "serious", altering the intensity slightly.

critical blunder

Substitutes "mistake" with "blunder" and "grave" with "critical", emphasizing the severity of the error.

major oversight

Replaces "mistake" with "oversight", highlighting that something important was missed.

significant miscalculation

Replaces "mistake" with "miscalculation", suggesting an error in judgment or planning.

terrible error in judgment

Expands on the idea of a mistake by specifying it as an error in judgment and emphasizes its severity using "terrible".

colossal failure

Emphasizes the magnitude of the negative outcome resulting from the mistake.

huge misstep

Highlights the negative consequences of the mistake.

regrettable decision

Focuses on the decision-making aspect of the mistake and expresses remorse.

unfortunate error

Indicates that the mistake was undesirable and brought about negative consequences.

ill-advised action

Suggests the mistake was the result of poor advice or planning.

FAQs

How to use "grave mistake" in a sentence?

You can use "grave mistake" to emphasize the seriousness of an error. For instance, "It would be a "grave mistake" to ignore the warning signs."

What can I say instead of "grave mistake"?

You can use alternatives like "serious error", "critical blunder", or "major oversight" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "grave mistake"?

It's appropriate to use "grave mistake" when the error has significant and detrimental consequences. It emphasizes the severity and impact of the misjudgment.

Is "grave mistake" interchangeable with "serious mistake"?

While similar, "grave mistake" implies a higher degree of severity than "serious mistake". A "grave mistake" suggests potentially irreversible or far-reaching negative outcomes.