substantial mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantial mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a significant or serious error in judgment, action, or understanding. Example: "The committee acknowledged that a substantial mistake had been made in the financial report, leading to incorrect conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Fred Friendly, the former head of CBS News, asked Dwight Eisenhower in 1961 if he had made any substantial mistakes during his Presidency.

The New Yorker

This was a step particularly relevant in preventing substantial mistakes in the succeeding phases of interpretation, as spotted in some previous studies of this earthquake.

Geoscience Letters

Well, we haven't seen any substantial mistakes or problems for Ellmers.

Huffington Post

On the contrary, the relevant competence should help health workers to uncover misunderstandings about factual matters that can lead to substantial mistakes.

BMC Medical Ethics

If the Advertisement as reproduced by GNM contains a substantial error solely due to a mistake on GNM's part, GNM shall, on request, re-publish the Advertisement at no additional cost to the Advertiser.

The Guardian

That led to an angry retort from Treasury Secretary Lawrence H. Summers, who wrote in a memorandum to Mr. Clinton that such a release would amount to a "substantial policy mistake" and would, at best have a "modest effect" on prices.

The New York Times

He even invoked the name of Washington's other great power, Alan Greenspan, declaring that "Chairman Greenspan and I believe that using the Strategic Petroleum Reserve at this time, as proposed by D.O.E., would be a major and substantial policy mistake".

The New York Times

Complex criteria are likely to give rise to substantial error in eligibility determination, both through honest mistakes and because they are more difficult to verify and therefore more prone to falsification.

IZA Journal of Labor Policy

Because of these opportunities substantial planning mistakes can be avoided and logistic conflicts can be detected and eliminated in advance.

Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation Proceedings of the International Conference on Structural Engineering, Mechanics and Computation 2–4 April 2001, Cape Town, South Africa

But the administration's sense of relief is misguided: counting on regional forces to bring peace to Liberia without substantial American participation is a mistake, one that will likely come with tragic consequences.

The New York Times

Too often, Dr. Saltz says, the word "significant" is mistaken to mean "substantial," and "improved survival" is often interpreted as "cure".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "substantial mistake" when you want to emphasize that the mistake had a noticeable impact or consequence.

Common error

Avoid using "substantial mistake" for minor errors or trivial matters. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and make your writing seem exaggerated or hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantial mistake" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "substantial" modifies the noun "mistake". It is used to describe a mistake that is significant in size, degree, or importance. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "substantial mistake" denotes a significant error with notable consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage across diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and formal business settings. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the nature and ramifications of the mistake to avoid overstating its importance in minor situations. Alternative phrases include "major error", "significant blunder", and "serious error", each offering slightly different nuances in meaning. Remember to use it when emphasizing the impactful consequences, as the phrase denotes the error had a noticeable impact or consequence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major error

This alternative uses a more common adjective to describe the mistake, suggesting a significant but not necessarily critical error.

significant blunder

This alternative replaces "mistake" with "blunder", implying a more careless or foolish error.

serious error

This alternative emphasizes the severity of the mistake, highlighting potential negative consequences.

critical oversight

This alternative suggests the mistake was due to a failure to notice something important.

grave miscalculation

This alternative implies the mistake involved incorrect judgment or assessment.

fundamental flaw

This alternative shifts the focus to an inherent weakness or defect that led to the mistake.

considerable lapse

This alternative suggests a temporary failure of judgment or memory that resulted in the mistake.

egregious error

This alternative uses a stronger adjective to highlight the exceptional and shocking nature of the mistake.

major oversight

Emphasizes the importance of what was missed, rather than the resulting consequences. It also minimizes the importance of consequences.

serious lapse in judgment

Highlights that the error was not simply factual, but was rooted in poor decision making.

FAQs

What does "substantial mistake" mean?

A "substantial mistake" refers to a significant error that has considerable consequences or impact. It implies the mistake is not minor but rather has notable importance.

What are some alternatives to "substantial mistake"?

You can use alternatives such as "major error", "significant blunder", or "serious error" depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey. For example, "serious error" might be best if highlighting the consequences.

How can I use "substantial mistake" in a sentence?

You can use "substantial mistake" in a sentence like: "The investigation revealed that a "substantial mistake" had been made in the accounting department, leading to significant financial losses."

What is the difference between "substantial mistake" and "minor error"?

A "substantial mistake" has significant consequences, whereas a "minor error" is a small, inconsequential mistake with little to no impact. The choice depends on the severity of the error.