mistaken by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mistaken by" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct expression would typically be "mistaken for." Example: "She was often mistaken for her twin sister due to their striking resemblance."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

With her mid-Atlantic accent, she was once mistaken by a London shopkeeper for English.

The New York Times - Books

The car she was travelling in was "mistaken" by police for one driven by car hijackers.

The Guardian - Opinion

Months later a different poll asked adults about President Obama's religious affiliation, persistently mistaken by some Americans to be Muslim.

The New York Times

The dressed-down director, for instance, is mistaken by a movie company secretary for an air-conditioning repairman.

The Guardian - Film

The aphid's abdomen is thus mistaken by the ant for the head of a fellow ant, thereby eliciting the food-begging response, which is identical with milking.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Ahmed, 14, was arrested in Texas last week after a clock he assembled was mistaken by a teacher for a homemade bomb.

The Guardian

So there is a jocular, genial surface quality to the music that is often mistaken by listeners today, and even some performers, as being all there is.

The New York Times

Reputedly, guitar god Jimi Hendrix, mistaken by an old woman for a bellboy during one stay at the hotel, obliged by carrying her bags.

Britannica

In a fairly common intermediate stage, weathered biotite is golden yellow, has a bronzy lustre, and may be mistaken by inexperienced observers as flakes of gold.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Last week, it was reported that a 17-year-old girl with autism had been mistaken by police to be intoxicated.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The deaths were not so much a mistaken by-product of self-defence as an inevitable part of it.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing misidentification, consider using synonyms like "confused with" or "misidentified as" for greater clarity and correctness.

Common error

The most common error is using "mistaken by" instead of "mistaken for". Remember that "mistaken for" is the correct idiomatic expression to indicate misidentification.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mistaken by" functions as part of a passive construction, indicating that someone or something is wrongly identified. However, it is grammatically incorrect, as confirmed by Ludwig, and should be replaced with "mistaken for".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "mistaken by" appears frequently in various sources, according to Ludwig AI, it's considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct idiomatic expression is "mistaken for". When writing, it's best to avoid "mistaken by" and opt for alternatives like "mistaken for", "confused with", or "misidentified as" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. Always prioritize using standard grammatical conventions, especially in formal writing, and proofread your work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

misidentified as

A more concise way of saying something was wrongly identified.

confused with

Changes the verb and preposition to indicate a state of mental uncertainty.

taken for

Uses a different verb to convey the idea of mistaken identity.

identified incorrectly as

Emphasizes the incorrectness of the identification.

misinterpreted as

Focuses on the incorrect interpretation of something.

believed wrongly to be

Highlights the false belief aspect of the mistake.

wrongly assumed to be

Highlights the incorrect assumption made.

thought to be, in error

Adds explicit mention of the error in the belief.

attributed falsely to

Focuses on the incorrect attribution of a characteristic or quality.

deceived by

Emphasizes being misled or fooled.

FAQs

Is it grammatically correct to say "mistaken by"?

No, the grammatically correct phrase is "mistaken for". The expression "mistaken by" is generally considered incorrect in standard English.

What does "mistaken for" mean?

The phrase "mistaken for" means to be wrongly identified as someone or something else. For example, "She was "mistaken for" a celebrity".

Can I use "confused with" instead of "mistaken for"?

Yes, "confused with" is a suitable alternative to "mistaken for", especially when referring to a mix-up in identity or perception. For example, "The twins were often "confused with" each other".

What are some other phrases similar to "mistaken for"?

Other phrases with similar meanings include "misidentified as", "taken for", or "believed wrongly to be". Choose the one that best fits the context of your sentence.