gravest mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

"gravest mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to someone's most serious or harmful mistake. For example, "The CEO admitted his gravest mistake was not investing in new technology sooner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"There's nothing I can say outside of saying I've learned my lesson, and I made one of the gravest mistake a politician can make," Mr. Medrano said.

The New York Times

Sony's gravest mistake was that it failed to ride some of the biggest waves of technological innovation in recent decades: digitalization, a shift toward software and the importance of the Internet.

The New York Times

The gravest mistake would be for the United States to write off Libya as an irredeemable terrorist haven, or for politicians in Washington to regret having intervened in support of Libya's rebels.

The New York Times

The gravest mistake we can make today is to believe that Detroit is an anomaly.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

"Pearl Harbor was a systemic failure in which the gravest mistakes were made by the Washington authorities.

The New York Times

Guantánamo Bay will be seen as one of the gravest mistakes any leader has made.

The Guardian - Opinion

One of the gravest mistakes of dentistry is the stubborn belief that correct root-canal filling will cure apical disease".

Evidence-Based Endodontics

One of the gravest mistakes people make is equating law with concepts of justice and fairness.

Huffington Post

This would be a grave mistake.

The New York Times

I think this is a grave mistake.

The Guardian

This would have been a grave mistake.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gravest mistake" when you want to emphasize the seriousness and potential consequences of an error. This phrase is suitable for formal contexts, such as news reporting or academic writing.

Common error

While "gravest mistake" is a valid phrase, it can sound overly dramatic in everyday conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "biggest mistake" or "worst mistake" when speaking or writing informally.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gravest mistake" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "gravest" modifies the noun "mistake". Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It points to the usage as a reference to someone's most serious error.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "gravest mistake" is a grammatically sound phrase used to highlight the extreme severity of an error. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable in English. While authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian employ it, the phrase remains relatively rare, best suited for formal contexts where emphasizing the gravity of an error is crucial. When writing, remember that simpler alternatives may be more appropriate in informal settings. Avoid overusing in non-formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most serious error

Replaces "mistake" with "error" and "gravest" with "most serious" to emphasize the severity.

biggest blunder

Uses "blunder" instead of "mistake", implying a more careless or foolish error.

most critical fault

Substitutes "mistake" with "fault" and "gravest" with "most critical" to highlight the importance of the error.

greatest misjudgment

Replaces "mistake" with "misjudgment", suggesting an error in decision-making.

worst oversight

Uses "oversight" instead of "mistake", implying a failure to notice or consider something important.

most damaging error

Focuses on the negative consequences of the error.

irreparable error

Emphasizes that the error cannot be fixed or undone.

fatal flaw

Implies a fundamental weakness that leads to failure.

costliest error

Highlights the high price or consequence of the mistake.

most regrettable act

Shifts focus to the action that led to the mistake, emphasizing remorse.

FAQs

How to use "gravest mistake" in a sentence?

You can use "gravest mistake" to emphasize the severity of an error. For example, "The politician admitted that his actions were the "gravest mistake" of his career."

What can I say instead of "gravest mistake"?

You can use alternatives like "most serious error", "biggest blunder", or "most critical fault" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "gravest mistake" or "greatest mistake"?

Both ""gravest mistake"" and "greatest mistake" are grammatically correct, but ""gravest mistake"" implies a more severe and consequential error.

What's the difference between "gravest mistake" and "serious mistake"?

"Gravest mistake" implies the most serious error possible, while "serious mistake" indicates a significant but not necessarily the most severe error.