make a mistake about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'make a mistake about' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to express that someone has incorrectly assumed something. For example, "I'm sorry, I made a mistake about when the meeting was starting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Don't make a mistake about that".

The Guardian - Music

"I make a mistake about once every thousand cars".

The New York Times

I don't think readers will make a mistake about Greif, but it will be interesting to see if they do.

The New Yorker

The last thing we want is for an investigation to fall apart because I get caught out and make a mistake about where I am supposed to live".

Independent

In medicine, when you make a mistake about whether something works or not, it's possible to cause death and suffering on a genuinely biblical scale.

The Guardian - Opinion

HMRC publishes clear guidelines to make sure no one can make a mistake about who is and is not self-employed in situations like this.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Altman made a mistake about Blair, he is saying.

The Guardian - Film

I made a mistake about Alice, right at the beginning, and she made a mistake about me.

The New Yorker

"Respect to Jennifer Cody Epstein for doing the honourable thing & admitting she made a mistake about #CharlieHebdo.

The Guardian - Books

I mean that I was surprised because I thought the Jewish Museum was making a mistake about the date of Purim.

The New Yorker

"Mr. Parks was a very innocent victim who made a mistake about another innocent victim," Mr. Ricco said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To enhance clarity, ensure the subject of the mistake is explicitly stated. For example, instead of saying "I made a mistake", specify "I made a mistake about the delivery date".

Common error

Avoid using "make a mistake about" in passive voice constructions. It's clearer and more direct to state who made the mistake. For instance, instead of saying "A mistake was made about the scheduling", say "I made a mistake about the scheduling".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a mistake about" functions as a verb phrase indicating an error in understanding or judgment regarding a particular subject. Ludwig's examples show it's often used to express misinterpretations or incorrect assumptions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "make a mistake about" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It signifies an error in understanding or judgment concerning a specific topic. While not exceedingly common, it appears across various contexts, predominantly in news and media sources. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for diverse communications, though more formal alternatives exist for specialized writing. When using the phrase, ensure to clearly state the subject of the error to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Be wrong about

Focuses more directly on the state of being incorrect, omitting the specific action of making a mistake.

Be mistaken about

Similar to "be wrong about", but carries a slightly stronger sense of error.

Misunderstand something about

Emphasizes a failure to grasp the meaning or implications of something.

Misjudge something about

Highlights a failure to properly evaluate or form an opinion about something.

Come to the wrong conclusion about

Focuses on the incorrect outcome of a reasoning process.

Have a misconception about

Highlights that the misunderstanding is due to a pre-existing incorrect belief.

Err in assessing something about

Implies a formal or deliberate evaluation that results in an error.

Be off the mark regarding

Suggests that the assessment or understanding was not accurate or relevant.

Be under a false impression about

Indicates that the incorrect belief is based on incomplete or misleading information.

Get the wrong end of the stick about

An idiomatic expression indicating a complete misunderstanding.

FAQs

How can I use "make a mistake about" in a sentence?

You can use "make a mistake about" to indicate that someone has incorrectly assumed something. For example, "I'm sorry, I "made a mistake about" when the meeting was starting".

What's a more formal alternative to "make a mistake about"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "be mistaken about" or "misjudge something about". These options provide a similar meaning but are suitable for professional or academic contexts.

Is it always necessary to include "about" after "make a mistake"?

Yes, the preposition "about" is essential when you want to specify what the mistake concerns. Omitting "about" changes the meaning. For example, "make a mistake" is a general statement, while "make a mistake about" specifies the subject of the mistake.

What's the difference between "be wrong about" and "make a mistake about"?

"Be wrong about" focuses on the state of being incorrect, while "make a mistake about" emphasizes the action of making an error in judgment or understanding. The latter highlights the process leading to the incorrect state.