rudimentary mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rudimentary mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a mistake that is basic or simple, but still has an important effect. For example, "His rudimentary mistake resulted in a major setback for the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Baia made a rudimentary mistake, failing to protect the near post.

The New York Times - Sports

One of Ivanov's losses was in a long game in a closed position (the kind where computers perform poorly), and at the end, Ivanov made a rudimentary mistake.

The New York Times

In the 67th minute, Ronaldo scored the first, and decisive, goal, on a rudimentary mistake by Germany's Oliver Kahn, who had allowed only one goal the entire tournament and was considered the best at his position in the world.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

failed to mention the FSCS, and others made rudimentary mistakes about how much protection consumers receive.

Independent

Readers notice and find it hard to understand why we make so many rather rudimentary mistakes.

The New York Times

After costly repairs to fix that damage, BP discovered a more significant problem: rudimentary mistakes in the welding of pipes in the underwater manifold, which connects dozens of wells and helps carry the oil back to the platform, had caused dangerous cracks and breaks.

The New York Times

They make rudimentary mistakes, let emotion color their play, overbet to make up losses and then wonder why card-counting isn't the magical path to riches the books promise.

Los Angeles Times

Never intended for public consumption, these rudimentary demos are littered with mistakes, apologies and explanations as Dylan loses his way, adds on a verse he's just thought of, or deprecates material he's already grown bored with.

Independent

What we didn't realize at the time was that, far from the rudimentary motion toward maturity we mistook the gesture for, the shaving was actually an act of primal desperation/capitalism.

Vice

Hardy, astonished by the genius of Ramanujan — who, largely unschooled, writes rudimentary proofs that are brilliant even in their mistakes — campaigns to have him brought to England on a scholarship, and then pushes him toward solving the infamous Riemann hypothesis.

The New Yorker

But Afghanistan is a country where only a third of the population can read and even the most rudimentary infrastructure is lacking, and commanders on the ground say rushing the process would be a mistake.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rudimentary mistake", ensure the context clarifies the impact of this seemingly simple error. Highlight how it led to significant consequences or revealed deeper underlying issues.

Common error

Avoid using "rudimentary mistake" to describe errors that are already self-evidently simple and inconsequential. Reserve it for situations where the simplicity of the error belies its larger ramifications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rudimentary mistake" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "rudimentary" modifies the noun "mistake". Ludwig shows that this phrase is used to describe a simple, basic error.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

33%

Academia

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Sports

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "rudimentary mistake" is a grammatically sound way to describe a basic error, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Though relatively rare in occurrence, it appears in diverse sources like news articles and sports reports. The phrase serves to pinpoint a simple mistake, implying it could have been easily avoided, and its consequences can be significant. When writing, ensure the simplicity of the mistake contrasts with its impact to effectively convey the situation. While sources confirm the phrase's correctness, alternative expressions such as "simple mistake" or "basic error" may suit different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simple mistake

Replaces "rudimentary" with "simple", indicating a basic error.

basic error

Uses "basic" instead of "rudimentary" and "error" instead of "mistake", both conveying a fundamental flaw.

careless mistake

Replaces rudimentary with careless, suggesting less attention was given.

elementary blunder

Substitutes "rudimentary" with "elementary" and "mistake" with "blunder", suggesting a more careless error.

fundamental oversight

Replaces "mistake" with "oversight", implying a failure to notice something important, while "fundamental" emphasizes the error's significance.

negligent fault

Highlights the element of carelessness involved in the error.

easily avoided mistake

Highlights the preventability of the error.

initial mistake

Focuses on the mistake being at the start or beginning.

obvious mistake

Highlights the clear visibility of the error.

easily made mistake

Highlights the commonality of the error.

FAQs

How can I use "rudimentary mistake" in a sentence?

You can use "rudimentary mistake" to describe a basic error that has significant consequences, such as, "The project failed due to a "rudimentary mistake" in the initial planning phase".

What can I say instead of "rudimentary mistake"?

Alternatives include "simple mistake", "basic error", or "elementary blunder", depending on the level of formality and severity you want to convey.

Is "rudimentary mistake" a formal or informal phrase?

"Rudimentary mistake" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, as it is a straightforward and easily understood expression. However, consider the audience and choose a more precise alternative if needed.

What's the difference between "rudimentary mistake" and "careless mistake"?

While both describe errors, ""rudimentary mistake"" emphasizes the simplicity of the error itself, while "careless mistake" highlights the lack of attention or diligence that led to the error.