unintentional error

USAGE SUMMARY

"unintentional error" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a mistake made unintentionally or without malicious intent. For example: "The teacher made an unintentional error when grading the exam, and gave most students a higher grade than they deserved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Michael A. Cardozo, the city's corporation counsel, argued yesterday that the line in question was an unintentional error.

The New York Times

"However, she does not for a moment believe the use of her pictures was the product of unintentional error".

The New York Times

Citing unnamed sources in the president's office, Egyptian state media said the initial scheduling was an unintentional error and quickly fixed.

The New York Times

Mr. Guccione, who had previously published an apology to both Ms. Soltesz-Benetton and Ms. Kournikova, released another statement yesterday in which he said, "We made a terrible, but wholly unintentional, error in publishing pictures of you as Anna Kournikova".

The New York Times

Specialists who have reviewed the problem say it was caused by an unintentional error when someone mistakenly capitalized the name of a computer server, writing MAIL2 instead of Mail2.

The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors overseeing the Roger Clemens perjury case said Friday that they made an unintentional error when showing jurors inadmissible evidence that led to Clemens's mistrial last month.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

As a result, even the inadvertent and unintentional errors are documented.

The Guardian

All words (aside from unintentional errors and malapropisms) are words at their birth.

The New York Times

The lawyers said that the tax section in the partnership agreement was unclear and contained unintentional errors.

The New York Times

In a written statement issued Friday, Hachette said that Ms. Goodall had agreed to delay the book's release because she wanted to "correct any unintentional errors".

The New York Times

Whereas testing for faults in hardware or unintentional errors in software can be highly reliable, the same is not true for malicious software.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing errors, specify whether they were "unintentional" to clarify that there was no malicious intent. This can help mitigate blame and focus on solutions.

Common error

Avoid automatically assuming an error was intentional. Using phrases like "alleged error" or "possible mistake" until the nature of the error is confirmed can prevent premature accusations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unintentional error" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the subject, object, or complement in a sentence. It describes a type of mistake that lacks deliberate intent. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability, evidenced by examples of its use in describing various situations where errors occur without intention.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unintentional error" is a commonly used and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a mistake made without intent. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across a variety of contexts, including news, science, and formal business settings. When using this phrase, you are clarifying the lack of malicious intent. Related phrases include "accidental mistake" and "inadvertent mistake". A key writing tip is to use the phrase to specify the nature of an error, while avoiding assumptions of intent before confirming the details.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

accidental mistake

Replaces "error" with "mistake" and "unintentional" with "accidental", maintaining the core meaning.

inadvertent mistake

Uses "inadvertent" as a synonym for "unintentional", suggesting a lack of attention.

unintended mistake

Replaces "unintentional" with "unintended", emphasizing the lack of planned outcome.

oversight

A more concise way to express an unintentional failure to notice or do something.

honest mistake

Emphasizes the lack of malicious intent behind the error.

slip-up

An informal term for a minor unintentional error.

unforeseen error

Highlights the unexpected nature of the error.

lapse in judgment

Focuses on the cognitive aspect of the error, suggesting a temporary failure in reasoning.

clerical error

Indicates an error made during routine administrative tasks.

unwitting blunder

Combines lack of awareness ("unwitting") with a significant mistake ("blunder").

FAQs

How to use "unintentional error" in a sentence?

You can use "unintentional error" to describe a mistake made without intent. For instance, "The data breach was attributed to an "unintentional error" in the system's configuration."

What can I say instead of "unintentional error"?

Alternatives include "accidental mistake", "inadvertent mistake", or simply "oversight" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "unintentional error"?

While most errors are unintentional, specifying that it was an "unintentional error" can be useful to explicitly rule out malicious intent or negligence. It provides additional clarity.

What's the difference between "unintentional error" and "deliberate mistake"?

An "unintentional error" is a mistake made without planning or intent, whereas a "deliberate mistake" is a purposeful action done incorrectly, often with a specific goal in mind.