minute mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "minute mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a very small or trivial error that is not significant in the grand scheme of things. Example: "Despite the minute mistake in the report, the overall analysis was still accurate and well-received."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Everyone but Romeo, it seems, is on the take, and Mungiu is careful not just to plant evidence of that norm — the Volvo S.U.V., for instance, that the principal drives — but also to insure that we don't, for a minute, mistake Romeo for a paragon of virtue.

The New Yorker

With its giant Starbucks, Cheesecake Factory and Wolfgang Puck restaurant, you might for a minute mistake the new Shanghai Disney Resort for theme parks in Anaheim or Orlando, Fla.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

He earned a reputation for balancing discretion in altering an author's language with a distaste for the most minute mistakes, including punctuation.

The New York Times - Books

Whether he can pull off a similar feat here, where minute mistakes can mean major movement one way or the other, is uncertain.

The New York Times - Sports

Horner admitted that towards the end of the race he had been telling Vettel's race engineer Guillaume 'Rocky' Rocquelin to slow his driver down to ensure there were no last minute mistakes.

BBC

A catalogue of Widnes handling errors led to their downfall, especially in the first half, with the centre Adam Hughes starting the epidemic with a 12th-minute mistake that led to Dixon's opening try.

The Guardian - Sport

"It [the League Cup final] had a big impact on the players' minds, the last-minute mistake, but it has happened to us many times this season," said Wenger.

BBC

A draw here against Perpignan in the Heineken Cup in December cost them home advantage in the quarter-finals and they have failed to win their last two league matches in front of their supporters, after last-minute mistakes.

The Guardian - Sport

Too posh and privileged for some situations, not enough for others, she spent 15 minutes mistaking a butler for someone's husband, and recalled the anxiety of approaching Sissinghurst with a boyfriend, convinced he would feel out of place, Sissinghurst appearing as "an entire Elizabethan town in a film set".

The Guardian - Books

Sound advice, if you think you can avoid last-minute mistakes on your tax return.

Forbes

How could anyone ever, for a minute, have mistaken those howlers for Vermeers?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "minute mistake" with quantifying adverbs to highlight the magnitude of the mistake; such as almost a "minute mistake" or barely a "minute mistake".

Common error

Avoid using "minute mistake" sarcastically when the error had significant repercussions. This can create confusion and undermine your message, especially in formal or critical contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "minute mistake" functions as an adjective-noun combination, where "minute" modifies "mistake". It describes the size or significance of the error, indicating it is small or trivial, aligning with Ludwig AI's assessment.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Sports

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "minute mistake" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a small, insignificant error. As Ludwig AI points out, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Sports. While generally neutral, it's crucial to ensure its use aligns with the context's formality. Alternatives like "minor error" or "slight oversight" may be preferable in more formal settings. When using "minute mistake", it's important to use it to downplay errors that don't have significant consequences and avoiding its sarcastic use where implications are severe.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor error

Replaces 'minute' with 'minor', emphasizing the small significance of the mistake.

unimportant mistake

Directly states that the mistake does not hold any weight.

slight oversight

Substitutes 'mistake' with 'oversight', suggesting inattention rather than a deliberate error.

insignificant error

Emphasizes the lack of importance of the error.

trivial blunder

Uses 'blunder' to indicate a more careless mistake, though still minor.

negligible mistake

Highlights that the mistake is so small it can be ignored.

small slip-up

Replaces both words for a more informal and casual tone.

fleeting lapse

Indicates a temporary and short-lived mistake or error.

minor infraction

Implies a slight violation of a rule or standard.

paltry error

Uses 'paltry' to describe the error as insignificant and worthless.

FAQs

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

You can use "minute mistake" to describe a very small or unimportant error. For instance, "The project was successful despite a "minute mistake" in the initial planning phase".

What are some alternatives to "minute mistake"?

Alternatives include "minor error", "slight oversight", or "trivial blunder". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "minute mistake" the same as "major mistake"?

No, "minute mistake" refers to a very small and insignificant error, while "major mistake" implies a serious and consequential error. They are opposites in terms of impact and severity.

Can "minute mistake" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "minute mistake" can be used in formal writing, but ensure that the tone is appropriate and that the insignificance of the mistake is clear to the reader. Using alternatives like "slight oversight" or "minor error" might be more suitable depending on the context.