made the error of assuming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made the error of assuming" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a mistake that was made due to an incorrect assumption. Example: "She made the error of assuming that everyone would agree with her decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Quite honestly, I had made the error of assuming what my students would think ahead of time, and as a result wasn't prepared.

The Guardian

But it is also one of those ideas on which a very cute fable could be built, provided sufficient contrivance of comedy went along with it.Unfortunately, Valentine Davies, who wrote the script for this film, made the error of assuming that the idea was sufficiently funny by itself and that it needed no great elaboration or clever writing to make a winning show.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Many managers make the error of assuming they are the office mentor for their newbies.

BBC

Richard Wainwright, the late Liberal MP for Colne Valley, once perceptively remarked that Holme was so acutely aware of his many talents that he made the error of taking on too many tasks: he assumed the roles of both chairman and chief executive when it would have been optimal to have delegated and chosen either one or the other.

The Guardian

"I made the error of waiting too long, I hesitated.

The Guardian - Sport

Second, feminist research has successfully shown the error of assuming stable boundaries between public and private.

Johns Hopkins University

So we make the error of confirmation and assume that it won't change that much going forward.

Huffington Post

England did precisely as well at last year's World Cup as those in touch with rugby reality anticipated, but only half as well as hoped by the vast multitudes who made the fundamental error of assuming Martin Johnson's stellar playing career automatically qualified him for the very different role of national manager.

Independent

England did precisely as well at last year's World Cup as those in touch with reality had anticipated, but only half as well as hoped by the vast multitudes who made the fundamental error of assuming Martin Johnson's stellar playing career automatically qualified him for the very different role of national manager.

Independent

So I'd made the schoolgirl error of assuming this must be exactly what she's like in real life.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I remembered reading and loving it as an undergraduate, and I made the classic error of assuming my class of bright 14 year-olds would enjoy it too.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "made the error of assuming", ensure the context clearly explains why the assumption was incorrect and what the consequences were.

Common error

Avoid using "made the error of assuming" for minor oversights. This phrase implies a significant misjudgment with noticeable repercussions. For less critical situations, consider milder alternatives like "misunderstood" or "miscalculated".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made the error of assuming" functions as a means of expressing a misjudgment based on a flawed assumption. Ludwig confirms its correctness in written English. It identifies a specific kind of error where someone acts on an incorrect premise.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "made the error of assuming" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a mistake based on a flawed assumption. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase is best suited for contexts where a significant misjudgment has occurred. While versatile enough for news, academic, and professional settings, it should be used with caution in casual conversations where simpler alternatives might be more appropriate. Remember to clearly explain the reason of the error and the negative consenquences to maximize the utility of this phrase in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

erred in the assumption

Focuses on the act of making an incorrect assumption, using 'erred' instead of 'made the error'.

incorrectly assumed

Directly states the incorrectness of the assumption, simplifying the original phrase.

mistakenly believed

Replaces 'assuming' with 'believed', emphasizing the false belief underlying the error.

wrongly presumed

Substitutes 'assumed' with 'presumed', indicating a taking for granted without adequate evidence.

made a faulty assumption

Highlights the defectiveness of the assumption itself, rather than the act of assuming.

fell into the trap of assuming

Indicates a common pitfall, suggesting the assumption was an easy mistake to make.

operated under the false assumption

Emphasizes that actions were based on an incorrect premise.

labored under the misapprehension

Uses 'misapprehension' to denote the misunderstanding leading to the error.

jumped to the conclusion that

Suggests a hasty and unwarranted assumption was made.

took for granted that

Implies an assumption was made without proper consideration or questioning.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "made the error of assuming" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "erred in the assumption" or "operated under the false assumption".

What's the difference between "made the error of assuming" and "incorrectly assumed"?

"Made the error of assuming" emphasizes the mistake in making the assumption, while "incorrectly assumed" directly states that the assumption itself was wrong. The first one is also more emphatic.

Is "made the error of assuming" too harsh for everyday conversation?

In casual conversation, it might sound overly critical. Simpler alternatives like "mistakenly believed" or "wrongly thought" are often more appropriate.

Can "made the error of assuming" be used in a positive context?

No, this phrase always carries a negative connotation, implying a mistake or misjudgment. It's not suitable for situations where an assumption turned out to be correct or beneficial.