vast mistake

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "vast mistake" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or considerable error in judgment or action. Example: "The decision to invest in that failing company was a vast mistake that cost us dearly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Instead, it is a vast mistake.

The New Yorker

"That was a vast mistake and Gerson got many wrong".

The Guardian - Arts

She swears that this is all a vast mistake, a conspiracy, a waste of everybody's time.

The New York Times - Magazine

During our long discussion after dinner, we concluded, together, that Israel and its ally, the U.S., had made a vast mistake.

The New Yorker

But Mr Bush has played, unerringly, straight into anti-Americans' hands.One vast mistake has been his neglect of Mr Blair's advice to push seriously for the creation of a Palestinian state, instead of just saying that this was his "vision".

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

"What we've seen is that the vast majority of mistaken identities is not the intention of police, but just them doing the normal procedures of the time," she said.

Vice

Make no mistake, the vast majority of doctors are competent, skilled, and serve the public well.

The New York Times

"And make no mistake, the vast majority of OWS folks have seen through Obama and the Democratic Party.

The Guardian - Opinion

As noted above, by mistake the vast majority of the data from the alternate counseling condition were lost.

BMC Oral Health

It also describes the colorful debauchery of Sam Houston, Texas' president and liberator; his liquor supply was so vast that he was mistaken for a smuggler, until he explained that he kept these barrels for his own use.

The New York Times - Books

The absence of McKinley and fellow defensive end Deon Hollins (concussion) forced the Bruins to play a few defenders out of position.... UCLA committed only four penalties for 17 yards, a vast improvement over its mistake-prone play in recent seasons.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "vast mistake", ensure the context clearly establishes the significant scale or impact of the error. This emphasizes the severity and consequences of the misjudgment.

Common error

Avoid using "vast mistake" for minor errors. This phrase is most effective when describing errors with substantial and demonstrable consequences. Using it for trivial mistakes weakens its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vast mistake" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "vast" modifies the noun "mistake". It serves to intensify the significance or scale of the error being described. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in various contexts to highlight substantial misjudgments.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "vast mistake" is used to describe a significant error, primarily in news and media contexts. Ludwig AI indicates its grammatical correctness. While not overly common, it effectively conveys the magnitude of a misjudgment, with alternatives like "tremendous mistake" or "major blunder" offering similar connotations. When employing this phrase, ensure the context warrants its strong emphasis to avoid overstating minor errors. Its presence in reputable sources like The New York Times and The Economist underscores its reliability and effectiveness in highlighting substantial errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tremendous mistake

Replaces "vast" with "tremendous", indicating a very large or serious error.

huge error

Substitutes "mistake" with the synonym "error" and "vast" with "huge", implying a considerable misjudgment.

major blunder

Uses "blunder" instead of "mistake", suggesting a more careless or foolish error.

significant error

Replaces "vast" with "significant", emphasizing the importance or consequence of the error.

colossal error

Employs "colossal" instead of "vast", heightening the sense of the mistake's enormity.

serious miscalculation

Replaces "mistake" with "miscalculation", implying an error in planning or estimation.

grievous fault

Substitutes "mistake" with "fault", emphasizing the responsibility or blame associated with the error, and "vast" with "grievous" to augment the severity.

grave error

Replaces "vast" with "grave", implying a serious and potentially dangerous mistake.

critical oversight

Replaces "mistake" with "oversight", suggesting an error of omission that has significant consequences.

massive misjudgment

Uses "misjudgment" instead of "mistake", indicating a flawed decision-making process, and "massive" to emphasize the scale.

FAQs

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

You can use "vast mistake" to describe an error or misjudgment with significant consequences. For example, "Investing in that company proved to be a "vast mistake" that cost us dearly."

What are some alternatives to "vast mistake"?

Alternatives include "tremendous mistake", "huge error", or "major blunder", depending on the specific context and desired emphasis.

Is "vast mistake" the same as "big mistake"?

While both describe errors, "vast mistake" implies a greater scale or more significant consequences than a "big mistake". "Vast" emphasizes the magnitude of the error.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "vast mistake"?

It is appropriate when the error has widespread repercussions or substantial negative impacts. For instance, a strategic misstep in business or a critical error in judgment with societal consequences might be described as a "vast mistake".