oops

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'oops' is correct and usable in written English.
It is an interjection, usually used to express surprise or chagrin. You can use it when you make an error or when something unexpected happens. For example: "Oops, I forgot to turn in my homework assignment!".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Perry had begun listing three federal agencies he would eliminate if elected president during a primary debate, only to forget the third and declare "oops" before a packed crowd and on national television.

The Guardian

With the run of actual hit singles drying up in the past five years, however, contestants on the live shows now recreate full performances from previous contestants, with highlights being a mildly unhinged version of Katie Waissel's version of Don't Give Up on Me, complete with bird's-nest wig and "sod it" outburst; a sensitive rereading of Jedward's incredible version of Britney's Oops.

The Guardian - Music

During his "oops" moment in a Republican presidential debate in November 2011, Perry said he would eliminate three federal agencies but could not remember the name of one of them.

The Guardian

My favourites include: The Statistics Society ("Stats Soc has taken delivery of large consignment of tea. There will be a student T-distribution next week").; The Short Attention Span Society ("Will meet on... oops, I stepped in... are they serving burritos for... I forgot my... ......); and The Societies Society ("promoting meta-analysis and academic overthinking").

The Guardian

"Oops," he said, drawing a blank.

The Economist

Oops Is nowhere safe?

The Economist

Purists have harrumphed, the pound-a-liners have potboiled on the op-ed pages, the humble hack or hackette yes, they are both in the NODE has made merry at finding his or her (oops, their?) no-noes of vocabulary or syntax authorised by the Olympians of the OUP.

The Economist

An object-oriented database does not care whether the information being stored in it is a handful of telephone numbers, a series of music tracks or a whole stream of images that make up a motion picture.In this section Bigger is better Oops!

The Economist

So far some 600,000 Kenyans out of 43m are estimated to have bought policies or been given workplace insurance.Half of Africa's health expenditure is thought to come from out-of-pocket payments, known to health-care pundits as OOPs, with the sick paying over the counter.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

His critics derided this as "win-hold-oops", before the details were thrashed out, and had the idea squelched.

The Economist

Not only could Mr Huntsman be ambassador to China, he could stay well away from politics until after 2012.Oops.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context. While appropriate in informal settings, "oops" may be too casual for professional or academic writing.

Common error

Avoid using "oops" in formal writing or presentations. Opt for more professional language, such as "I apologize for the error" or "There seems to have been a mistake".

Linguistic Context

"Oops" functions primarily as an interjection, expressing a sudden realization of a minor mistake or accident. As Ludwig highlights, it conveys surprise or chagrin. The examples show its use across diverse scenarios, from political gaffes to simple accidents.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

26%

Less common in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

26%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "oops" is a common interjection used to express mild surprise or acknowledgement of a small error. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It’s frequently found in news and media, but generally considered informal, making it less suitable for formal or professional writing. While "uh-oh" and "whoops" serve as near synonyms, more formal situations call for alternatives like "I apologize" or "my mistake". Use "oops" judiciously to maintain an appropriate tone for your audience and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uh-oh

Slightly less informal; indicates mild trouble or realization of a problem.

whoops

Nearly identical in meaning and usage, perhaps slightly more playful.

oopsy

More childish and lighthearted, suitable for minor mishaps.

my bad

More direct acknowledgement of responsibility for a mistake; slightly more informal.

excuse me

Can indicate a minor blunder or accidental intrusion; more polite and formal.

pardon me

Similar to "excuse me" but typically used for more formal or unintentional social breaches.

I didn't mean to do that

A more explanatory phrase, taking responsibility and clarifying intention.

I made a mistake

Formal and direct acknowledgment of error.

mea culpa

Latin for "my fault"; more formal and serious acknowledgement of error.

I apologize

Formal expression of regret, usually for a more significant error.

FAQs

How can I use "oops" in a sentence?

"Oops" is typically used as a standalone interjection to express mild surprise, a minor mistake, or acknowledgment of an accident. For example, "Oops, I spilled my coffee!"

What's a more formal alternative to "oops"?

In formal situations, consider using phrases like "I apologize", "my mistake", or "excuse me" instead of "oops".

Is it okay to use "oops" in business communication?

While "oops" can be acceptable in very informal internal communications, it's generally best to avoid it in external or formal business contexts. Use more professional phrases to maintain credibility.

What is the difference between "oops" and "whoops"?

"Oops" and "whoops" are largely interchangeable and have very similar meanings. The choice between them often comes down to personal preference or subtle variations in tone. "Oops" might be slightly more common, but both express a minor mishap.