slightly mistaken

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly mistaken" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has made a small error or misunderstanding. Example: "I believe you are slightly mistaken about the meeting time; it is actually scheduled for 3 PM, not 2 PM."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Perhaps both are slightly mistaken.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He's slightly mistaken.

Vice

But maybe Sangeen was slightly mistaken, since he wasn't present at the kidnapping himself.

Vice

I think he was at least slightly mistaken: Our office is east of Commonwealth.

Los Angeles Times

The lyrics on Megadeth's cover of "Anarchy in the U.K". were slightly mistaken because Mustaine claimed he had heard them incorrectly.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

By Fred Packard The New Yorker, November 29 , 1947P. 90 Reflections on people who resemble each other slightly and are mistaken for each other.

The New Yorker

7/10 Dog 2: Is actually stuffed (if I'm not mistaken), slightly undignified in its choice of pose, but with the friendly demeanour that I gather is valued by the dog-loving community.

The Guardian

And that opinion -- which probably represents an extreme end of the Views of Walter White spectrum -- doesn't match up with mine, but what struck me was how many people really wanted to convince me that the views I expressed in my "Ozymandias" review, especially concerning Walt's phone call, were slightly, moderately or greatly mistaken.

HuffPost

Moreover, the amplitudes of their changes across this time course are minimal, and could be easily mistaken for slightly correlated noise.

Biology Direct

Dressed in his usual T-shirt, jeans, and scuffed leather jacket, driving around campus in a dented gray Chevy pickup, Deisseroth could be mistaken for a slightly shambolic creative-writing professor.

The New Yorker

Together, they solve the usual cop show cases, very primetime, slightly Scooby Doo, lots of scheming and mistaken identity.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly mistaken" when you want to gently correct someone without being overly critical. It's a polite way to point out a minor error.

Common error

Avoid using multiple qualifiers like "very slightly mistaken" as it can sound redundant. Choose the qualifier that best fits the degree of error you want to convey.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly mistaken" functions as an adverbial modifier followed by an adjective. It serves to qualify the degree to which someone is in error. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "slightly mistaken" is a useful phrase for gently pointing out minor errors. As Ludwig AI points out, it’s grammatically correct and commonly used. The phrase is most often found in news and media, with its function being to soften corrections and its register being mostly neutral. Remember to use it when you want to be polite and avoid harsh criticism, and avoid using excessive qualifiers. Alternatives include phrases like "somewhat inaccurate" or "a bit off", but the best choice will depend on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly inaccurate

Very close in meaning, simply replacing 'mistaken' with 'inaccurate'.

somewhat inaccurate

Indicates a degree of inaccuracy, similar to "slightly mistaken" but perhaps implying a bit more deviation from the truth.

a bit off

A more informal way to say that something is not entirely correct.

not entirely accurate

A formal way to express that there are inaccuracies involved.

partially incorrect

Suggests that only a portion of something is wrong, while the rest may be accurate.

not quite right

A gentle way of pointing out an error without being too critical.

somewhat erroneous

A more formal synonym, implying a deviation from correctness or accuracy.

marginally wrong

Highlights that the error is small or insignificant.

a little off-base

Implies that someone's idea or statement is not entirely relevant or correct.

imperfectly correct

Emphasizes the presence of flaws within an otherwise correct statement.

FAQs

What does "slightly mistaken" mean?

The phrase "slightly mistaken" means to be in error to a small degree, a gentle way of saying someone is wrong without being harsh.

How can I use "slightly mistaken" in a sentence?

You can use "slightly mistaken" to politely correct someone. For instance, "I think you're "slightly mistaken" about the deadline; it's next week, not this week."

What are some alternatives to saying "slightly mistaken"?

Alternatives include phrases like "somewhat inaccurate", "a bit off", or "not quite right", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "slightly mistaken" formal or informal?

"Slightly mistaken" falls in the neutral to slightly formal register. It's suitable for both professional and casual conversation.