miscalculating the consequences

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "miscalculating the consequences" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the act of incorrectly assessing the potential outcomes of a decision or action. Example: "By miscalculating the consequences of his actions, he found himself in a difficult situation that could have been avoided."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

First, Democrats appear to be miscalculating the political moment.

HuffPost

Thus, miscalculating the enemy's intentions could lead to preemption with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Huffington Post

Miscalculating the number of ceiling tiles in a room at the Holiday Inn in Ipsilante, Michigan.

The New Yorker

But miscalculating the cost of reducing emissions, as the world is doing, is expensive.

The Economist

As the years passed, some relented, conceding that they had miscalculated the extent and consequences of international opprobrium.

The New York Times

"I miscalculated the yardage," Park said.

The New York Times - Sports

But has he miscalculated the unions' resistance?

The Economist

It previously miscalculated the fahrenheit change.

The Guardian

I miscalculated the distance, and it was a nightmare.

The New York Times

But we had miscalculated the depth of American commitment.

The New York Times

The DfT has admitted that it miscalculated the riskiness of FirstGroup's winning bid – which offered to pay the government £13.3bn over 15 years – and as a consequence had asked for an excessively small financial guarantee from the company.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "miscalculating the consequences", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being miscalculated and what the potential outcomes are. This adds clarity and impact to your writing.

Common error

Avoid presenting miscalculated consequences as absolute certainties. Acknowledge that consequences are often probabilities, not guarantees. Saying "He miscalculated the consequences, leading to inevitable ruin" is less accurate than "He miscalculated the consequences, greatly increasing the risk of ruin."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "miscalculating the consequences" functions as a verbal phrase. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase correctly describes the act of incorrectly assessing the outcomes or impact of a decision or action.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "miscalculating the consequences" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a failure in accurately assessing the potential outcomes of a decision or action. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is usable in written English. While relatively rare, it appears in diverse contexts, including news, business, and scientific discussions. When using this phrase, ensure the context is clear about what is being miscalculated and what potential outcomes are at stake. Consider alternatives like "underestimating the ramifications" or "misjudging the repercussions" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

underestimating the ramifications

Focuses on a failure to appreciate the full scope and complexity of the repercussions.

misjudging the repercussions

Emphasizes the error in assessing the impact that actions will have.

overlooking the implications

Highlights a failure to consider the indirect effects or outcomes.

downplaying the significance

Suggests a deliberate attempt to minimize the importance of potential outcomes.

ignoring the fallout

Indicates a disregard for the negative aftermath or repercussions.

misconceiving the effects

Focuses on having a wrong understanding of the effects of something.

misreading the outcomes

Highlights an incorrect interpretation of the potential results.

underrating the effects

Suggests a failure to give appropriate weight or importance to the impacts.

misassessing the impact

Focuses on incorrectly evaluating the force or influence of actions.

failing to foresee the results

Emphasizes a lack of anticipation of what might happen.

FAQs

How can I use "miscalculating the consequences" in a sentence?

You can use "miscalculating the consequences" to describe a situation where someone incorrectly assesses the potential outcomes of their actions. For example: "By miscalculating the consequences of his actions, he found himself in a difficult situation."

What are some alternatives to "miscalculating the consequences"?

Some alternatives include "underestimating the ramifications", "overlooking the implications", or "misjudging the repercussions".

What's the difference between "miscalculating the consequences" and "underestimating the consequences"?

"Miscalculating the consequences" implies a broader error in assessment, while "underestimating the consequences" suggests specifically minimizing the impact. You miscalculate when you get the whole equation wrong, and underestimate when you diminish the result.

Is it more common to "miscalculate the consequences" or to "misjudge the consequences"?

Both phrases are valid, but "misjudge the consequences" might be slightly more common in general usage. Ludwig can help you compare the frequency of both phrases across various sources.