lapse of judgment

USAGE SUMMARY

"lapse of judgment" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You may use it when you are referring to making an unwise decision or making a mistake due to a lack of thinking. For example, "She regretted the lapse of judgment that led to her quitting her job without another in line."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What an extraordinary lapse of judgment.

The Guardian - Opinion

Some put it down to an editorial lapse of judgment.

The Guardian

Enjoy your lapse of judgment here today at our store.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It was a lapse of judgment," Catalano said while crying.

The New York Times - Sports

In a lapse of judgment, he made bad choices.

The Washington Post

It was not a momentary lapse of judgment; it took place over an extended period.

The Washington Post

But given my lapse of judgment with the pry bar, I didn't relax too much.

The New York Times

In his statement, Mr. Ellory said, "I wholeheartedly regret the lapse of judgment".

The New York Times

The panel described Wood's "dishonesty" as extremely serious and called it "a momentary lapse of judgment".

The Guardian

Yesterday a university spokeswoman, Marilyn Marks, called it a "serious lapse of judgment".

The Guardian

He "disgraced himself when last in cabinet with an atrocious lapse of judgment", it said.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair "lapse of judgment" with an explanation or acknowledgement of responsibility to demonstrate understanding and accountability.

Common error

Avoid using "lapse of judgment" to excuse repeated or egregious misconduct. It should describe isolated incidents, not systematic failures or intentional harm.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lapse of judgment" primarily functions as a noun phrase, often used as the object of a verb (e.g., "regret a lapse of judgment") or as a complement describing an action or decision. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

18%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lapse of judgment" is a commonly used noun phrase to describe a temporary failure in reasoning or decision-making. Ludwig AI confirms it as a correct and usable phrase. It's typically used in neutral contexts, often in news, business, and academic settings, to explain or excuse a mistake, as evidenced by the numerous examples from authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian. When employing this phrase, remember to reserve it for isolated incidents and avoid attributing malicious intent where it doesn't exist.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

moment of poor judgment

Highlights the temporality and sub-optimality of the decision.

error in decision-making

Focuses on the flawed process of reaching a conclusion.

miscalculation

Focuses on an error in assessing a situation or outcome.

failure in discernment

Emphasizes a lack of keen perception or understanding.

careless mistake

Highlights lack of attention or diligence.

oversight

Suggests a careless or unintentional failure to notice something.

bad call

An informal way to describe a poor decision.

intellectual slip

Implies a brief and unintentional mental error.

indiscretion

Suggests a lack of prudence or good judgment, often with moral or social implications.

temporary insanity

A more dramatic way to describe a fleeting period of irrationality.

FAQs

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

You can use "lapse of judgment" to describe a temporary failure in reasoning or decision-making. For instance, "The company's spokesperson described the CEO's actions as a momentary "lapse of judgment"."

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

In more formal contexts, consider using phrases like "error in decision-making" or "failure in discernment" to convey a similar meaning with a higher degree of formality.

Is "lapse in judgment" grammatically correct?

While "lapse in judgment" is understandable, ""lapse of judgment"" is the more standard and widely accepted phrasing.

What's the difference between "lapse of judgment" and "mistake"?

A ""lapse of judgment"" implies a temporary failure to think clearly or reasonably, whereas a "mistake" is a more general term for an error, which could be due to various reasons, including lack of knowledge or skill.