sent by mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sent by mistake" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that was sent to someone unintentionally or due to an error. Example: "I apologize for any confusion, but the email you received was sent by mistake. Please disregard it and accept my sincere apologies." In this sentence, the speaker is acknowledging their mistake of sending an email unintentionally and asking the recipient to ignore it.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

There were hundreds of emails sent "by mistake".

The Guardian

There is one exception: the front edge of one lintel was sent by mistake to Berlin.

Harvard University

Anxiety within Dow Jones is even being stoked by emails sent by mistake.

The New York Times

Letter turned out to be from New Yorker Hotel where manuscript had been sent by mistake.

The New Yorker

Sometimes when caseworkers contacted Capita, they were told the letter had been sent by mistake and the individual should ignore it.

The Guardian

Jonathan Abady, the family's lead counsel on a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, said in a phone interview with The Post that the claim is "mystifying," raising questions that the bill was sent by mistake.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Scranton aides said the piece was sent out by mistake, but a copy got into Mr. Carville's hands.

The New York Times

"We sent reminders by mistake for an electricity bill between November 2014 and January 2016, even though CL wasn't a British Gas customer," it says.

The Guardian - Money

Corbyn's team said the list was sent out by mistake by a junior staff member, but the leader later appeared to stand by the substance of the allegations, saying all the remarks had been made on the record.

The Guardian

In an embarrassing gaffe, a document was sent out by mistake to journalists explaining that the party is looking at "how the richest 10% of people, those earning over £50,000, could make a further contribution" after the next election.

The Guardian

Update: Amazon has confirmed the email came from the company and that it was sent out by mistake.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sent by mistake", ensure the context clearly indicates what was sent and to whom, providing clarity about the error. For instance, "The email was sent by mistake to the entire company."

Common error

Avoid using "sent by mistake" without specifying what was sent and the intended recipient. Saying "It was sent by mistake" lacks essential information and creates confusion. Be specific: "The report was sent by mistake to the wrong department."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sent by mistake" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It specifies how something was sent, indicating that the action of sending was unintentional or erroneous. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

24%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sent by mistake" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that something was unintentionally transmitted. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is widespread across various contexts, particularly in news media and academic settings. When using this phrase, clarity is key; specify what was sent and to whom to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives like "mistakenly transmitted" or "unintentionally dispatched" can provide nuanced meaning depending on the specific error. By following best practices and avoiding vague contexts, you can effectively communicate the unintended nature of a transmission and prevent potential misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sent unintentionally

Simplifies the phrase to directly state the lack of intention.

mistakenly transmitted

Directly points to the error in the transmission process.

dispatched in error

Highlights that an error occurred during the dispatching process.

transmitted by accident

Uses "accident" to highlight the unplanned event that lead to the transmission.

erroneously transmitted

Focuses on the incorrect or inaccurate nature of the transmission.

unintentionally dispatched

Highlights the lack of intent behind the sending.

inadvertently forwarded

Emphasizes the accidental nature of the forwarding action.

wrongly delivered

Focuses on the incorrect destination of the sent item.

accidentally issued

Emphasizes the unplanned release or sending of something.

sent due to a mishap

Emphasizes that the sending occurred because of an unfortunate event.

FAQs

How can I use "sent by mistake" in a sentence?

You can use "sent by mistake" to explain that something was unintentionally transmitted to someone. For example, "The email containing confidential information was "sent by mistake" to an unauthorized recipient."

What's the difference between "sent by mistake" and "accidentally sent"?

"Sent by mistake" and "accidentally sent" are very similar, both indicating an unintentional transmission. The difference is stylistic; "accidentally sent" is slightly more informal, while ""sent by mistake"" might be perceived as slightly more formal.

What can I say instead of "sent by mistake"?

You can use alternatives like "mistakenly transmitted", "unintentionally dispatched", or "inadvertently forwarded depending on the context.

Is it better to say "sent by mistake" or "sent in error"?

Both phrases are correct and indicate an unintended transmission. "Sent by mistake" is more commonly used in general conversation, while "sent in error" might be used in more formal or technical contexts.