greater mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "greater mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a mistake that is more significant or serious than another mistake in a given context. Example: "While forgetting the meeting was a mistake, the greater mistake was not preparing for the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Congress had derided Mr. Oynes while committing the greater mistake.

The New York Times

Take a step back, though, and the war looks an even greater mistake.

The Economist

In my humble opinion no greater mistake could be made so far as the intelligence community is concerned.

The Economist

Others say that the committee should not fear being slower and more deliberate and that it would be a greater mistake to rush.

The New York Times

Western governments have failed their citizens once; building more barriers to stop goods, ideas, capital and people crossing borders would be a far greater mistake.

The Economist

Burke has been quoted as saying, "Nobody makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he could only do a little". In many ways, Burke was a bridge between conservatives of tradition and conservatives of moral passion.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

His greatest mistake?

Harvard University

It was a great mistake.

The Guardian

That was my greatest mistake".

The New York Times - Books

Have a Great Mistake to share?

The New Yorker

That would be a great, great mistake.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "greater mistake" to emphasize the relative severity of an error compared to another. This phrasing helps highlight the more significant misstep in a series of events or decisions.

Common error

Avoid overuse of comparative phrases like "greater mistake" as it can diminish the impact. Ensure the comparison is relevant and adds value to the sentence, rather than sounding repetitive or unnecessary.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "greater mistake" functions as a comparative expression, modifying the noun "mistake" to indicate a higher degree of significance or severity. Ludwig's examples show it used to compare the relative impact of different errors.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

19%

Science

6%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "greater mistake" is a useful comparative expression to emphasize the relative severity or impact of one error over another. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and commonly used in diverse contexts like news, academic writing, and general discourse. When using this phrase, ensure the comparison is relevant and enhances the clarity of your message. Alternatives like "larger error" or "more significant blunder" can provide similar meanings but may alter the emphasis slightly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Larger error

Focuses more directly on the size of the error.

More significant blunder

Emphasizes the importance and clumsiness of the mistake.

Major miscalculation

Highlights the faulty reasoning behind the error.

Costlier error

Emphasizes the negative consequences and expense of the mistake.

More serious lapse

Focuses on the failure of attention or judgment.

Bigger oversight

Highlights the act of neglecting something important.

Worse decision

Emphasizes that the error comes from having made a selection between possible options.

More damaging mistake

Emphasizes on negative consequences of that mistake.

More regrettable error

Highlights that the error is associated with sadness.

More critical mistake

Highlights that the mistake has important consequences.

FAQs

How to use "greater mistake" in a sentence?

Use "greater mistake" to compare two errors, emphasizing that one is more significant or damaging than the other. For example, "While missing the deadline was a mistake, the "greater mistake" was not informing the team beforehand".

What can I say instead of "greater mistake"?

Alternatives include "larger error", "more significant blunder", or "major miscalculation". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct: "big mistake" or "greater mistake"?

"Big mistake" is generally used to describe a single, significant error. "Greater mistake" is used when comparing two mistakes to emphasize that one is more significant than the other. The choice depends on whether you're making a comparison or simply describing an error.

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

While often used interchangeably, "mistake" generally implies a fault due to bad judgment or carelessness, whereas "error" can refer to a deviation from accuracy or correctness, regardless of intent. "Greater" can modify either word depending on the intended meaning; a "greater error" would emphasize that an inaccuracy is more impactful than another one.