looking for mistakes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "looking for mistakes" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are searching for errors or inaccuracies in a text, document, or performance. Example: "While reviewing the report, I was looking for mistakes to ensure its accuracy before submission."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

You find yourself looking for mistakes.

The Guardian - Arts

Havelange said of last month's Fifa crisis: "Everyone is looking for mistakes because everyone wants to sit in that [president's] chair".

The Guardian - Sport

"As part of the scanning of apps, we don't just look for intentionally bad behaviour anymore: we're also looking for mistakes".

The Guardian - Tech

It says that looking for mistakes in your credit report is analogous to searching for land mines, for example, and that preparing a snapshot of your overall financial health is like an induction physical.

The New York Times

The talks only came to an end in the early hours of Tuesday morning, and diplomats stayed up through the night "scrubbing" the text, looking for mistakes and discrepancies.

The Guardian

Take a stab at looking for mistakes yourself.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

We used to look for mistakes in the New York Times together.

The Guardian

In the training environment, a computer character, "ProJo," openly displayed its reasoning when solving math problems and allowed children to "look for mistakes".

Computers & Education

"It's not right, I think, but you have to look for mistakes sometimes instead of the skill level involved," Tanaka said.

The New York Times - Sports

Lam suggested that Berman go back to the first page of his work to look for mistakes — "and he was right," said Berman, a senior research scientist at Propulsion Science and Technology in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.

Princeton University

So does Arencibia, who will look for mistakes as a hitter, try to minimize them from his pitchers and wait for the long season to calm the wild temperature swings from his first taste of the majors.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When proofreading, try reading the text backward, sentence by sentence. This disrupts your natural reading flow, making it easier to spot errors you might otherwise overlook.

Common error

Don't use "looking for mistakes" when the goal is to improve or refine something already functional. Phrases like "seeking improvements" or "identifying areas for enhancement" are more appropriate in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "looking for mistakes" functions as a gerund phrase, with 'looking' acting as a verb form functioning as a noun. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it describes the activity of seeking errors. The Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "looking for mistakes" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression for describing the act of searching for errors or imperfections. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability in various contexts. While its register is generally neutral, it’s crucial to consider the specific context and audience when choosing this phrase. As it’s used in a variety of sources like news outlets and wikis, make sure to consider if you have to choose a more formal alternative like "identifying inaccuracies" or "detecting errors".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

searching for errors

Focuses specifically on errors, implying a systematic search.

seeking out errors

Emphasizes the proactive nature of searching for errors.

checking for errors

Suggests a procedural review to verify correctness.

identifying inaccuracies

Highlights the act of pinpointing imprecise or incorrect details.

detecting flaws

Emphasizes the discovery of imperfections or weaknesses.

pinpointing errors

Highlights the act of precisely identifying mistakes.

finding faults

Implies a critical examination to uncover shortcomings.

uncovering discrepancies

Focuses on finding inconsistencies or contradictions.

spotting imperfections

Highlights the visual aspect of noticing minor flaws.

examining for defects

Refers to a detailed inspection to find structural or functional problems.

FAQs

How can I use "looking for mistakes" in a sentence?

You can use "looking for mistakes" to describe the act of searching for errors in something, such as "The editor was "looking for mistakes" in the manuscript before publication".

What is a more formal alternative to "looking for mistakes"?

In a formal context, consider using "identifying inaccuracies" or "detecting errors" as alternatives to "looking for mistakes".

When is it inappropriate to use "looking for mistakes"?

It may be inappropriate when a more constructive approach is needed. Instead of "looking for mistakes", consider "seeking improvements" or "finding opportunities" for improvement.

What's the difference between "searching for errors" and "looking for mistakes"?

"Searching for errors" often implies a more systematic and thorough approach, while "looking for mistakes" can be more general and less structured.