not to be mistaken

USAGE SUMMARY

"not to be mistaken" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to express that something is not the same as something else, or that one should not mistake it for something else. For example, "This is the correct answer, not to be mistaken for any other."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Best fans Not to be mistaken for the most fans.

The Guardian - Sport

This is not to be mistaken with the usual error messages that are generated.

Stanford University

Miers's reticence is not to be mistaken for a lack of assertiveness or ambition.

The Washington Post

This enlightenment is not to be mistaken for misanthropy, which of course means hatred of mankind.

The New York Times - Books

This should be the hour of forceful diplomacy, not to be mistaken for appeasement.

The New York Times

This is not to be mistaken for philanthropy, even -- especially -- now.

The New York Times - Magazine

As the day progressed, I experienced an odd sensation of community (not to be mistaken for a sense of belonging).

The New Yorker

Clearly a hard worker, he is determined not to be mistaken for just some kid who got lucky.

Independent

First, planners have added the lovely Whinfell and another Borrowdale – not to be mistaken for the Borrowdale over by Keswick.

The Guardian - Travel

Costumes and props were designed by Charles Cattermole (not to be mistaken for George Cattermole, 1800-1868, who illustrated books by Charles Dickens and Sir Walter Scott).

Princeton University

Onstage and, far more often than not, in the studio, the Rolling Stones keep their sound loose: it's practiced and not to be mistaken for sloppy, precisely imprecise.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not to be mistaken" to clarify distinctions between similar concepts, items, or situations to prevent misunderstanding. For example, "Empathy, not to be mistaken for sympathy, involves understanding another's feelings".

Common error

Avoid using "not to be mistaken" excessively in a single piece of writing; vary your language with synonyms like "distinct from" or "unlike" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not to be mistaken" primarily functions as a qualifier, aiming to prevent confusion by clearly differentiating between two similar entities or concepts. Ludwig examples showcase this across diverse contexts. Its role is to ensure clarity and precision in communication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

9%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "not to be mistaken" is a versatile tool for preventing confusion and ensuring clarity in writing and speech. Ludwig AI correctly identifies it as grammatically sound and its very common usage is well-supported by a broad range of sources, including News & Media, Scientific, and Academic domains. It functions primarily as a qualifier, aiming to distinguish between similar concepts or entities. For example, it's used to emphasize the differences between empathy and sympathy or to clarify that something isn't an insult but constructive criticism. While broadly applicable, overuse can be avoided by employing synonyms like "distinct from" or "unlike". Its primary purpose is to guide audiences towards accurate perceptions, making it suitable for contexts that value precision and thoughtful differentiation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should not be confused with

Focuses on avoiding confusion between two distinct items.

do not mistake for

Directly advises against a common error in identification.

is not to be conflated with

Highlights a potential error of combining two separate concepts.

is not synonymous with

Emphasizes that two terms have different meanings, despite potential overlap.

is distinct from

Highlights the separate and unique nature of something compared to something else.

must not be equated with

Stresses that two things, while possibly related, are not equivalent.

ought not to be identified with

Formal way of saying that two things should not be seen as the same.

bears no resemblance to

Emphasizes the complete lack of similarity between two things.

unlike

Simply denotes that something has different attributes than another.

different than

Highlights the differences between two subjects.

FAQs

How can I use "not to be mistaken" in a sentence?

Use "not to be mistaken" to differentiate between two things that might seem similar. For instance, "This is constructive criticism, "not to be mistaken" for an insult".

What are some alternatives to "not to be mistaken"?

You can use alternatives like "should not be confused with", "is distinct from", or "unlike" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "not to be mistaken"?

It is appropriate when you need to clarify that something is different from something else that it might be easily confused with. The goal is to prevent misunderstandings and provide clarity.

What's the difference between "not to be mistaken" and "not to be confused"?

Both phrases serve a similar purpose, but ""not to be mistaken"" directly addresses the potential for error, while "not to be confused" focuses on avoiding misunderstanding. They are largely interchangeable, but ""not to be mistaken"" emphasizes the act of mistaking.