have slipped through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have slipped through" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that has escaped notice or become overlooked. For example: "Several errors have slipped through in the document and need to be corrected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And that they were a small office and the email must have, "slipped through".

Huffington Post

But some appear to have slipped through.

The Economist

Transforming deals have slipped through the LSE's fingers, however.

The Guardian - Business

Comedy seems to have slipped through the cracks all around.

The New Yorker

These youth have slipped through the cracks of the existing aid systems and been badly exploited.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Just like that, they have slipped through his fingers, and are gone.

The New Yorker

Chytrid fungus may have slipped through the cracks, however, because it does not immediately affect humans.

The Washington Post

They seem to have slipped through me leaving not a trace behind.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The others seem to have slipped through a crevice in space-time.

The New Yorker

However, it seems many have slipped through the net and are even being endorsed by celebrities.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

But numerous malicious apps have slipped through this safety net.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have slipped through" to describe errors, oversights, or individuals that bypassed a system or process unexpectedly. It's particularly effective when emphasizing a failure in controls or vigilance.

Common error

Avoid using "have slipped through" when describing intentional acts of evasion or deliberate omissions. This phrase best suits situations where something was unintentionally missed or overlooked due to a flaw in a system or process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have slipped through" functions as a passive voice construction indicating that something or someone was missed, overlooked, or bypassed a system. Ludwig's examples show its wide application in describing errors, security breaches, and unnoticed individuals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have slipped through" is a versatile expression used to indicate that something has been unintentionally missed or overlooked. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, especially in news and media. When writing, use this phrase to emphasize unintentional oversights or system failures. Consider alternatives like "have fallen through the cracks" for systemic issues or "have gone unnoticed" to highlight a lack of awareness. Remember, this phrase is best suited for unintentional misses rather than deliberate evasions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have fallen through the cracks

Refers to something being missed due to systemic failures or oversights, focusing on systemic issues rather than individual actions.

have been missed

A simple and direct way of saying something wasn't caught or noticed.

have gone unnoticed

Emphasizes the lack of observation or awareness regarding something, highlighting its obscurity.

have been overlooked

Focuses on the act of disregarding or failing to consider something important, pointing to a deliberate, though unintentional, oversight.

have evaded detection

Highlights the successful avoidance of being discovered or noticed, often implying cunning or stealth.

have escaped scrutiny

Indicates a lack of thorough examination or review, suggesting that something avoided careful inspection.

have passed through the net

Suggests something has bypassed a screening or filtering process.

have gone astray

Implies something has deviated from its intended path or purpose, often without being noticed.

have been forgotten

Signifies something has been completely removed from memory or consideration.

have been omitted

Indicates something has been intentionally or unintentionally left out.

FAQs

How can I use "have slipped through" in a sentence?

You can use "have slipped through" to indicate that something was missed or overlooked. For example, "Despite our best efforts, some errors "have slipped through" the editing process."

What are some alternatives to "have slipped through"?

Alternatives include "have fallen through the cracks", "have gone unnoticed", or "have been overlooked", each carrying slightly different nuances of meaning.

Is it better to say "slipped through the cracks" or "slipped through the net"?

Both phrases are valid, but "slipped through the cracks" emphasizes systemic failures and oversights, while "slipped through the net" suggests a failure in a screening or filtering process.

Can "have slipped through" be used to describe intentional actions?

No, "have slipped through" is best used to describe unintentional oversights or failures in a system. For intentional actions, phrases like "have evaded" or "have avoided" are more appropriate.