would have overlooked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "would have overlooked" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express a hypothetical situation in the past where something was missed or not noticed. Example: "If I hadn't double-checked my work, I would have overlooked several important details."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

I would have overlooked this if my friend hadn't mentioned it.

The New York Times - Arts

He said he doubted that the Port Authority would have overlooked any problems in its inspections.

The New York Times

Without the evidence of their presence, we probablyy would have overlooked this place and the story it has to tell.

The New York Times

The methodology that led to Wednesday's announcement, called "touch DNA" analysis, is essentially a way of looking for traces of genetic material that earlier methods would have overlooked.

The New York Times

Perhaps if I had been super charming or obviously destined for greater things they would have overlooked my suspect pedigree, but I was an obnoxious, pushy little twat.

The Guardian - Film

"Had they been able to resolve the underlying economic issues, people would have overlooked the corruption, the mismanagement, the autocratic rule," said Abdel Aziz Abu Hamad Aluwaisheg, a Saudi economist, speaking from Riyadh.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

MouseSavers.com offered Disney-specific guidance; we'd have overlooked the Ultimate Park Hopper Pass offer without this site.

The New York Times - Travel

It was a tiny article, something she would normally have overlooked.

The New Yorker

Alter's translation thus suggests a dimension of this eerie tale we would probably have overlooked: that of editorial comment.

The New York Times - Books

De la Mare, who lamented in a poem called "England" that he "never fought for thee", would not have overlooked the irony of inching closer to financial stability by way of the death of the country's treasured war poet.

The Guardian - Books

She admits that she would probably have overlooked the opportunity that central and eastern Europe provides had she not put in the research to discover that although average wealth was below western European standards, there was still a business case for exporting to the region.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would have overlooked" to express hypothetical past oversights. For example, "If I hadn't checked the data twice, I "would have overlooked" a critical error."

Common error

Avoid using "would of overlooked" instead of "would have overlooked". The correct form uses "have", not "of", to form the perfect conditional tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would have overlooked" functions as a modal perfect conditional verb phrase. It describes a hypothetical situation in the past where someone failed to notice or consider something. Ludwig examples show its use across various contexts to indicate potential oversights.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

42%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "would have overlooked" is a modal perfect conditional verb phrase used to describe hypothetical oversights in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and commonly employed across various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. The most frequent usages appear in News & Media and Science sources. To avoid common errors, remember to use "have" and not "of". Alternatives include "might have missed" or "could have ignored". Keep this analysis in mind to ensure proper and effective use of "would have overlooked" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might have missed

Suggests a possibility of not noticing something, similar to overlooking.

could have ignored

Indicates a potential decision to disregard something, implying a lack of attention.

may have disregarded

Highlights a potential unintentional negligence.

potentially disregarded

Focuses on the inadvertent oversight of neglecting or ignoring something.

would have disregarded

Highlights the potential decision not to acknowledge something important, implying the consequences.

would have dismissed

Emphasizes rejection or disregard, suggesting a failure to appreciate its significance.

failed to observe

Directly points out the inability to see or notice something important.

neglected to notice

Highlights the absence of awareness or recognition of something.

missed the chance to see

Focuses on the lost opportunity to notice.

would have lost sight of

Indicates a failure to keep something in mind or focus on it.

FAQs

How can I use "would have overlooked" in a sentence?

Use "would have overlooked" to describe a hypothetical situation where something was missed. For example, "Without the detailed report, we "would have overlooked" the key issue."

What's a simpler way to say "would have overlooked"?

Alternatives include "might have missed", "could have ignored", or "may have disregarded", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey. For example, instead of "I "would have overlooked" it", try "I "might have missed" it".

Is "would of overlooked" grammatically correct?

No, "would of overlooked" is incorrect. The correct form is ""would have overlooked"". The auxiliary verb is "have", not "of".

What is the difference between "would have overlooked" and "would be overlooked"?

"Would have overlooked" refers to a past hypothetical action of overlooking something, while "would be overlooked" describes a future possibility of something being missed. The first is active; the second is passive.