mistakes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mistakes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to errors or faults made in a task or situation. Example: "We all make mistakes, and it's important to learn from them to improve our skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Ebola crisis has brutally exposed the "age-old failures" of the humanitarian aid system with the World Health Organisation and governments repeating the mistakes of past public health emergencies, the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has said.

The Guardian

"I made two dumb mistakes, but other than that the only thing I struggled with was the pace of the greens.

The Guardian - Sport

Experience helps you to fix mistakes you made in the past".

The Guardian - Sport

Eyre said the group risked making the same mistakes again if it pushed through a proposal to hand selection of directors to a board sub-committee made up of management and their appointees.

The Guardian - Business

Or on a chairman who insisted he had learned from past mistakes but saw his team ignominiously relegated from the top flight for the second successive time?

The Guardian - Sport

Why do pedants correct mistakes as if affronted – as if a family member had been insulted?

The Guardian - Books

Filling out an NCAA tournament bracket is the perfect metaphor for life because it affords us the opportunity to make the same mistakes over and over and over again.

The Guardian - Sport

Hussein-Ece insisted that she dinsistedegrethate decishen to join the Conservatives in coalition, but saididhat "serious mistakes" had beenotade in how the paregretrtheyedecision.

The Guardian

"I made a mistake then and I made a mistake again – people make mistakes," the midfielder said.

The Guardian - Sport

"I hope the past mistakes will not continue any longer," he said.

The Guardian - Business

In later apologising, the then deputy first minister said public life would be better if politicians were granted fair-minded space to admit honest mistakes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing "mistakes", be specific about their nature and impact to provide constructive feedback or analysis.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that "mistakes" were made without identifying them. Always provide context and details to explain the specific errors and their consequences.

Linguistic Context

The term "mistakes" primarily functions as a plural noun, denoting instances where something has been done incorrectly. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the term "mistakes" is a common plural noun used to denote errors or faults across various contexts. As highlighted by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and versatile, appearing frequently in news, formal business settings, and scientific discussions. To enhance clarity in writing, it's best practice to specify the nature and impact of the "mistakes" being discussed. While synonyms like "errors", "blunders", and "faults" offer nuanced alternatives, being precise about the type and consequence of the "mistakes" enriches the communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

errors

Synonym for "mistakes", suggesting unintentional deviations from correctness.

faults

General term for flaws or imperfections, including "mistakes".

blunders

Implies clumsy or careless "mistakes", often with significant consequences.

missteps

Suggests actions that deviate from a correct or desired path, often with negative consequences.

oversights

Refers to unintentional failures to notice or consider something important.

miscalculations

Specifically refers to incorrect estimations or judgments, particularly in quantitative contexts.

lapses

Suggests temporary failures in judgment, concentration, or memory.

infractions

Refers to violations of rules or agreements, often in a formal setting.

transgressions

Implies violations of rules, laws, or moral principles, which can be seen as "mistakes".

gaffes

Social "mistakes" or blunders, especially those causing embarrassment.

FAQs

How can I use "mistakes" in a sentence?

You can use "mistakes" to refer to errors or faults made in various contexts. For instance, "We all make mistakes, and it's important to learn from them".

What's the difference between "mistakes" and "errors"?

"Mistakes" and "errors" are often interchangeable, but "mistakes" can sometimes imply a stronger sense of responsibility or poor judgment, while "errors" is a more neutral term.

Which is correct, "mistakes were made" or "a mistake was made"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings. "Mistakes were made" implies multiple errors occurred, while "a mistake was made" refers to a single error.

What can I say instead of "avoiding mistakes"?

You can use phrases like "preventing "errors"", "minimizing "faults"", or "reducing "blunders"" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.