lapse in judgment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lapse in judgment" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an instance of bad decision making or judgment, often resulting in an undesired outcome. For example, "The manager's lapse in judgment resulted in him losing his job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

This is just a lapse in judgment.

The New York Times

"I made a major lapse in judgment.

The New York Times - Sports

Oddly enough, Rask admitted his misplay on Nash's goal was a brief lapse in judgment.

The New York Times

Cornerback Leon Hall read Schaub's lapse in judgment perfectly and snared the ball in stride.

The New York Times - Sports

Afterward, Alosi released a statement: "I made a mistake that showed a total lapse in judgment.

The New York Times - Sports

In a letter to the Senate majority leader, Mr. Metzen apologized "for my lapse in judgment".

The New York Times

"What disturbs me is that this lapse in judgment —and that's what you can call it, a lapse in judgment — is going to undo more than 15 years of hard-charging, quality journalism in New York and abroad," he said.

The New York Times

Mr. Torricelli characterized his violations of Senate ethics rules as a minor, and momentary, lapse in judgment.

The New York Times

He said Mr. Gorman had been reprimanded for what appeared to be a lapse in judgment surrounding her hiring.

The New York Times

They can happen at any time and often arise from a momentary lapse in judgment or an irresponsible decision.

The New York Times

Still, his failure to do so strikes us as a lapse in judgment given the apparent conflict of interest.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lapse in judgment" when you want to soften the impact of a mistake, suggesting it was a temporary deviation from otherwise good behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "lapse in judgment" to excuse habitual poor decisions; it's more suitable for isolated incidents, not ongoing patterns of misconduct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lapse in judgment" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. As shown by Ludwig, it identifies a specific instance of poor decision-making or flawed reasoning.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

4%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "lapse in judgment" is a common and acceptable way to describe a temporary failure in decision-making. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure it accurately reflects the situation – a one-time mistake rather than a pattern of poor choices. Alternative phrases like "error in judgment" or "poor decision" can be used depending on the desired level of formality and the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

error in judgment

Replaces 'lapse' with 'error', emphasizing the mistake made.

mistake in reasoning

Focuses on the cognitive aspect of the error.

poor decision

A simpler, more direct way of expressing a bad choice.

bad call

An informal way to describe an incorrect or unwise decision.

failure of discernment

Emphasizes a lack of insight or understanding.

moment of indiscretion

Highlights the lack of caution or prudence.

slip-up in decision-making

Uses 'slip-up' to indicate a minor mistake.

momentary failing

Highlights the temporary nature of the mistake.

error of assessment

Focuses on the incorrect evaluation of a situation.

miscalculation

Emphasizes that the error came from failing to accurately assess a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "lapse in judgment" in a sentence?

You can use "lapse in judgment" to describe a temporary failure in decision-making. For example, "The politician's "lapse in judgment" cost him the election".

What's a more formal alternative to "lapse in judgment"?

A more formal alternative to "lapse in judgment" could be "error in judgment", which carries a slightly more serious tone.

Is "lapse in judgement" or "lapse in judgment" correct?

"Lapse in judgment" is the correct spelling in American English. "Lapse in judgement" is an acceptable alternative in British English.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "lapse in judgment"?

It's appropriate when describing a specific instance where someone made a poor decision that is out of character or not typical of their usual behavior. It is often used to downplay a mistake. Avoid using it when the subject makes the mistake repeatedly.