slight miscalculation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slight miscalculation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a small error in judgment or calculation that has occurred. Example: "The project was delayed due to a slight miscalculation in the budget estimates."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Sorry, no, slight miscalculation.

The Guardian - Business

Even a slight miscalculation, at the White House or the Capitol, could produce a devastating financial market reaction.

The New York Times

A slight miscalculation, or a glance up to enjoy the view, can easily result in serious injury.

The New York Times - Sports

You see, Google made a slight miscalculation in terms of the Events' privacy settings.

TechCrunch

This close to the sun even a slight miscalculation results in the reduction of the probe to a cinder, so the team has imbued it with more than the usual autonomy.

TechCrunch

In other words, two perfectly skilled teams competing on a level playing field will produce scoring events by chance alone, e.g., a slight miscalculation of velocity, a fumbled pass, shifting environmental variables like wind or heat, etc.

EPJ Data Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"I made some slight miscalculations about the date," Mr. Rabanne said, noting that he had yet to tell Parisians to unpack and feel safe.

The New York Times

The slightest miscalculation could send the helicopter spinning into the ground under full power and we would all die.

The New Yorker

Their margins are now so thin that the slightest miscalculation can push them into the red and miscalculations are common in a business where premiums have to be fixed long before anyone knows what inflation in medical costs will be.

The Economist

My right knee cracked as I stood, a reminder of the torn A.C.L. I'd suffered in high school when I'd made the slightest miscalculation regarding the drop off the back side of a boulder while snowboarding at Mammoth.

The New Yorker

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said the situation remained "highly precarious, the slightest miscalculation could see it spiral out of control".

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ the phrase in analytical writing to describe deviations that do not invalidate the core thesis.

Common error

Do not use "slight miscalculation" to describe major disasters or systemic collapses. In these cases, the term can appear dismissive or euphemistic, potentially offending the audience by underplaying the severity of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slight miscalculation" acts as a noun phrase where the adjective "slight" modifies the noun "miscalculation". In linguistic terms, it functions as a softening device or a mitigator. Based on Ludwig AI examples, it is frequently used as the direct object of verbs like "make" or "result from" to categorize an error as manageable or non-fatal.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "slight miscalculation" is a highly versatile and professional phrase used to describe minor errors in judgment or data. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is most prevalent in journalistic and scientific writing, where it provides a nuanced way to discuss mistakes. While it is grammatically perfect and carries a high expert rating, writers should be cautious not to use it in situations where an error is actually significant, as it can sound dismissive. For most professional settings, it remains an excellent choice for maintaining a polite and objective tone while acknowledging that something did not go exactly according to plan.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor error

More clinical and neutral, focusing on the mistake itself rather than the intent.

small oversight

Suggests the error was due to missing a detail rather than a wrong calculation.

tiny miscalculation

Emphasizes the extreme smallness of the error, often used to minimize blame.

marginal mistake

Implies the error is on the edge of significance and likely has little impact.

trifling slip-up

Much more informal and suggests the error is almost unimportant.

slight blunder

Slightly more critical, as a 'blunder' usually implies a lack of care.

negligible error

A formal term indicating that the mistake does not change the overall result.

small inaccuracy

Focuses on the lack of precision in data or reporting.

subtle misjudgment

Focuses on the cognitive process or decision-making rather than numbers.

brief lapse in judgment

Suggests a temporary failure of logic rather than a mathematical error.

FAQs

How to use "slight miscalculation" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a small mistake, such as: "The project was delayed due to a "slight miscalculation" in the timeline."

What can I say instead of "slight miscalculation"?

Depending on your tone, you could use alternatives like "minor error", "small oversight" or "tiny mistake".

Is "slight miscalculation" a formal phrase?

Yes, it is considered a neutral to professional phrase. It is frequently used in business, journalism and academic contexts to describe errors politely.

What is the difference between "slight miscalculation" and "minor error"?

A "minor error" is a general term for any small mistake, while a "slight miscalculation" specifically implies a mistake in planning, measuring or predicting an outcome.