large mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

"large mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use this phrase to emphasize the extent of an error, for example: "It was a large mistake to underestimate the challenges of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

A very large mistake.

The Guardian - Money

But he made one very large mistake: He failed to patent his idea.

The New York Times

I think he really understands he made a very, very large mistake here.

The New York Times - Sports

It would be a large mistake for Americans simply to wait for "medical science to find a less drastic approach to the nation's bulging weight problem".

The New York Times

On Tuesday, Wilpon addressed reporters to say that Minaya had made a "very, very large mistake" when he lashed out at Rubin.

The New York Times

Mr. Pennette said he is working on a menu for Four Food that will avoid what he sees as a large mistake.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

It is the miracle of the market economy that it works at all – and sometimes it doesn't, when large companies make large mistakes.

Independent

"Either this shows great flexibility in the migratory movements of humpback whales, or that sometimes they make very large mistakes," says Phillip Clapham a cetacean expert with the National Marine Mammal Laboratory in Seattle.

Science Magazine

While some large mistakes can be very costly.

Huffington Post

I use a number of financial tools and common sense advice to keep people from making large mistakes.

Huffington Post

One is the frustrating gridlock in many political systems and a growing pattern of polarization that can lead either to policy inaction or to large mistakes and damage.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "large mistake", ensure the context clearly establishes the impact or consequences of the error to justify the use of "large".

Common error

Avoid using "large mistake" for trivial errors; reserve it for situations where the error has significant repercussions or consequences. Otherwise, consider a milder term like "small error" or "oversight".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "large mistake" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "large" modifies the noun "mistake". It describes the magnitude or significance of an error. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "large mistake" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to denote a significant error. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is prevalent in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts. Alternatives include "significant error", "major blunder", and "serious misjudgment". When employing this phrase, ensure the magnitude of the error justifies the adjective "large", and avoid using it for trivial oversights. As shown in the examples, it serves to emphasize the severity and impact of an error.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant error

Replaces "mistake" with "error" and "large" with "significant", indicating a notable mistake.

major blunder

Replaces "mistake" with the stronger term "blunder" and "large" with "major", suggesting a serious error.

serious misjudgment

Substitutes "mistake" with "misjudgment" and uses "serious" instead of "large", emphasizing flawed decision-making.

grave error

Replaces "large" with "grave", indicating a severe and consequential mistake.

critical lapse

Substitutes "mistake" with "lapse" and uses "critical" instead of "large", highlighting a failure in judgment or attention.

massive oversight

Replaces "mistake" with "oversight" and "large" with "massive", suggesting a significant and unintended omission.

huge oversight

Replaces "mistake" with "oversight" and "large" with "huge", suggesting a significant and unintended omission.

colossal failure

Replaces both words to amplify the sense of defeat and magnitude.

egregious mistake

Replaces "large" with "egregious", indicating an outstandingly bad or shocking mistake.

terrible error

Replaces "large" with "terrible", indicating a very bad mistake.

FAQs

How can I use "large mistake" in a sentence?

You can use "large mistake" to describe a significant error with notable consequences. For example, "Underestimating the market demand proved to be a "large mistake" for the company."

What are some alternatives to saying "large mistake"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "significant error", "major blunder", or "serious misjudgment".

Is it better to say "big mistake" or "large mistake"?

"Big mistake" and "large mistake" are often interchangeable, but "large mistake" might sound slightly more formal. Choose the one that best fits the tone of your writing.

What distinguishes a "large mistake" from a regular mistake?

A "large mistake" implies that the error had considerable negative consequences or involved a significant miscalculation. The adjective "large" emphasizes the scale or impact of the "mistake".