something I forgot

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "something I forgot" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an item or detail that you have overlooked or failed to remember. Example: "I was going through my checklist and realized there was something I forgot to pack for the trip."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Something I forgot to mention earlier.

The Guardian - Sport

Damn, now that was something I forgot to ask him to elaborate on.

The Guardian - Music

It's hard to tell if she's just miming something I forgot I said to her.

The New Yorker

Michael says to me, "O.K., I'm just going to tell you this right now, it's something I forgot to tell you: This is going to be really awkward".

The New York Times

"I knew there was something I forgot to do," continued Sam loudly, seemingly oblivious to my fear of flying, and the near-silence of the other 187 passengers aboard our Ryanair flight to Corfu.

The Guardian

If there was something I forgot to say or do during the last 18 years when I was raising her, this is my last chance to correct the oversight.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Previously - I Listened to Five CDs from the Five-for-a-Dollar Box at FYE. @meganboyle.

Vice

You have to be standing up or something, I forget" (#19).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

But there's something else I forgot to mention.

The New York Times

Wasn't there a song called something like 'I forgot to remember to forget'.

The Guardian - Sport

Say something simple like "I forgot my assignment book.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "something I forgot" when you realize you've omitted a detail or item that should have been included previously. This phrase works well in both spoken and written contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "something I forgot" repeatedly in close succession, as it can make your writing seem disorganized or indicate poor planning. Instead, vary your phrasing or provide specific details about what was forgotten.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "something I forgot" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the object or complement in a sentence. It refers to a specific but unnamed item, detail, or piece of information that the speaker or writer failed to remember. As noted by Ludwig, it's generally considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

13%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "something I forgot" is a grammatically correct phrase used to acknowledge a forgotten detail or item. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its frequency is relatively rare. It's commonly found in news and media contexts and tends towards a neutral or informal register. When aiming for more formal communication, consider alternatives like "a detail I overlooked". Be mindful of overuse and vary your phrasing to maintain clarity and engagement. The examples illustrate diverse uses, from packing oversights to recalling crucial points in a discussion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a detail I overlooked

Replaces "something" with "a detail" and uses "overlooked" instead of "forgot", emphasizing unintentional omission.

an item I neglected

Substitutes "something" with "an item" and "forgot" with "neglected", suggesting a lack of attention.

a thing I left out

Replaces "forgot" with "left out", implying an omission during a process like listing or packing.

what slipped my mind

Replaces the entire phrase with an idiomatic expression indicating a memory lapse.

a point I missed

Replaces "something" with "a point" and "forgot" with "missed", suitable when referring to arguments or discussions.

what I failed to remember

Uses a more formal tone by replacing "forgot" with "failed to remember".

what escaped my memory

Uses a more poetic phrasing to indicate forgetting something.

a fact I didn't recall

Substitutes "forgot" with "didn't recall", emphasizing the inability to bring something back to mind.

I had a memory lapse

This changes the structure to describe the experience of forgetting, rather than the forgotten item.

I spaced out

Replaces the entire phrase with an informal, idiomatic expression suggesting inattentiveness led to forgetting.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "something I forgot" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "a detail I overlooked" or "what I failed to mention" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "something that I forgot" instead of "something I forgot"?

While grammatically correct, "something that I forgot" is less concise and less common than "something I forgot". The simpler form is generally preferred.

What's the difference between "something I forgot" and "something I had forgotten"?

"Something I forgot" is simple past tense, implying you forgot it recently or are stating a fact. "Something I had forgotten" uses past perfect, emphasizing that you forgot it sometime in the past before another event. Choose the tense based on the timeline you're describing.

What can I say instead of "something I forgot" when referring to a person?

If you forgot about a person, you could say "someone I overlooked" or "someone I didn't remember to include", depending on the specific reason for forgetting.