sheer carelessness

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sheer carelessness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone has acted without attention or concern, leading to mistakes or negative outcomes. Example: "The accident was a result of sheer carelessness on the part of the driver, who failed to check their mirrors before changing lanes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Or misdate Shakespeare by a century out of sheer carelessness?

The New York Times - Books

It was "sheer carelessness, which reflects poorly on a country with regional leadership ambitions," he said.

The New York Times

I've seen them get into lots of accidents from sheer carelessness".

The New York Times

Anything else was destroyed out of sheer carelessness, or for fear of its being sold to foreigners.

The Guardian - Arts

"Is this the result of a) stoic British forbearance, b) sheer carelessness, or c) a realisation that we only care about proper sports and not silly nonsense like horse disco and larking about in dinghies that everyone pretends to enthuse about every four years?

The Guardian

It was out of sheer carelessness that they did it.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

But Prism, for all its breathtaking reach and intrusiveness, is less creepy to me than all the trillions of bits of information that commercial companies have stored up on all of us, gathered through a sophisticated mix of temptations, deceptions, default settings, carelessness, and sheer market power.

The New Yorker

They built castles of air on a far grander scale than Kenny Boy could have imagined, doing so with sheer stupidity and cavalier, greed-fueled carelessness rather than fraud.

The New York Times

for carelessness.

The New Yorker

Dylan: Carelessness.

The New Yorker

Sheer fear, sheer terror.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "sheer carelessness", ensure the context clearly demonstrates a significant lack of attention or responsibility that leads to a negative outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "sheer carelessness" to describe minor errors or oversights. Reserve it for situations where the negligence is substantial and has significant consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sheer carelessness" functions primarily as a noun phrase that describes a state or condition characterized by a significant lack of attention or responsibility. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "sheer carelessness" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a situation characterized by a significant lack of attention or responsibility, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While not overly common, it appears frequently in news and media contexts to attribute blame for avoidable negative outcomes. Related phrases include "utter negligence" and "complete disregard". When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly demonstrates a substantial lack of attention leading to meaningful consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utter negligence

Emphasizes the complete lack of care or attention.

complete disregard

Highlights the lack of respect or consideration.

absolute recklessness

Focuses on the lack of caution and potential danger.

pure negligence

Stresses the unadulterated nature of the carelessness.

simple negligence

Highlights the base level of the action/inaction.

gross inattention

Emphasizes the significant lack of attention.

outright dereliction

Highlights a failure to act responsibly.

total oversight

Indicates a complete failure to notice or consider something.

blatant neglect

Stresses the obvious and unacceptable nature of the negligence.

extreme inattention

Emphasizes a very significant lack of attention.

FAQs

How can I use "sheer carelessness" in a sentence?

You can use "sheer carelessness" to describe situations where a lack of attention leads to negative outcomes. For example, "The accident was caused by the driver's "sheer carelessness"."

What are some alternatives to "sheer carelessness"?

Alternatives include "utter negligence", "complete disregard", or "absolute recklessness", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "sheer carelessness" or "simple carelessness"?

"Sheer carelessness" implies a greater degree of negligence than "simple carelessness". "Simple carelessness" suggests a basic lack of attention, while "sheer carelessness" suggests a profound and unacceptable level of negligence.

What's the difference between "sheer carelessness" and "negligence"?

"Negligence" is a general term for a failure to exercise reasonable care. "Sheer carelessness" emphasizes the extent and obviousness of that failure, suggesting a more egregious lack of attention or responsibility.