minor slips

USAGE SUMMARY

"minor slips" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to minor mistakes, errors, or indiscretions. For example: "Everyone makes minor slips now and then; it's how you move forwards that matters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Minor slips were used against him.

The New York Times

These aren't minor slips, little boo-boos that can be overlooked.

The Guardian - Opinion

Yes, there were minor slips within the vertiginous plummeting lines in the first movement of the "Pathétique" (Op. 13).

The New York Times - Arts

Howe insists that he has learned from such lessons, but already this season, there have been some minor slips.

The New York Times - Sports

Two of the characters — one in Japanese and one in Devanagari, the script used in Sanskrit and several modern Indian languages — are meaningless because of minor slips.

The New York Times - Tech

But voters -- and the press -- ought to fight this tendency if it means that minor slips are punished and major fibs are ignored.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

It is a minor slip but easily checked.

The New York Times - Arts

Additionally, even though service is small-town friendly, there were a few minor slip-ups.

The New York Times

Poor David Cameron has only to make a minor slip and the world descends on his head.

The Guardian - Opinion

A minor slip near the end scarcely detracted from her lovely, expert reading.

The New York Times - Arts

So ensure you play by the rules or you could pay a heavy price for a minor slip-up.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "minor slips" when referring to small, unintentional errors or mistakes, especially in situations where precision is expected.

Common error

Avoid using "minor slips" when describing significant errors that have substantial consequences; instead, opt for terms like "major blunders" or "critical errors".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minor slips" functions as a noun phrase, where "minor" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "slips". As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it refers to small, insignificant mistakes or errors.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "minor slips" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe small, unintentional errors. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's acceptable for general use. It is primarily found in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts. While interchangeable with phrases like "small errors" or "slight mistakes", it's crucial to avoid using it when referring to significant errors. To prevent typical writing mistakes with the phrase "minor slips", make sure that the word is not used when describing major blunders.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor mistakes

A more direct synonym, replacing "slips" with "mistakes".

slight mistakes

Replaces "minor" with "slight" and "slips" with "mistakes", maintaining the same meaning.

small lapses

Focuses on temporary failures in judgment or behavior.

small errors

Focuses on the error aspect of the phrase, omitting the implication of accidental movement.

slight faults

Uses "faults" to indicate small imperfections or errors.

trivial errors

Emphasizes the insignificance of the errors.

petty errors

Indicates that the errors are small and insignificant.

inconsequential mistakes

Highlights that the mistakes do not have major consequences.

minor infractions

Refers to small violations of a rule or law.

small transgressions

Emphasizes a deviation from what is considered right or acceptable, but on a small scale.

FAQs

What does "minor slips" mean?

The phrase "minor slips" refers to small, insignificant errors or mistakes. They are typically unintentional and do not have serious consequences.

How to use "minor slips" in a sentence?

You can use "minor slips" to describe small errors in various contexts. For example: "Everyone makes "minor slips" from time to time", or "The gymnast's routine was nearly perfect, with only a few "minor slips"".

What can I say instead of "minor slips"?

You can use alternatives like "small errors", "slight mistakes", or "trivial errors" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "minor slips" or "minor slip-ups"?

Both ""minor slips"" and "minor slip-ups" are correct and convey a similar meaning. "Minor slip-ups" might emphasize the accidental nature of the errors slightly more.