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mistake vs The common mistake

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Mistake" is a general term referring to an error or fault, while "the common mistake" specifies that the mistake being referred to is one that is frequently made.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 909 views

mistake

This is a correct and commonly used term in English.

Use "mistake" when referring to an error or fault made by someone.

Examples:

  • Making a mistake is a natural part of the learning process.
  • She realized her mistake and apologized.
  • It's important to learn from your mistakes.
  • He repeated the same mistake over and over again.
  • Everyone makes mistakes sometimes.
  • Maybe I made a mistake somewhere.
  • There must be some mistake then.
  • She described her suicide attempt as a mistake.
  • Your mistake was neglecting Physics 100.
  • - You made a big mistake.
  • Mike stopped Ben from making a mistake...
  • Never had a chance to realize her mistake.
  • Your mistake forced us to silence Jane.
  • Whoever sent them made a mistake.
  • Correcting a colleague's mistake could breed resentment.
  • But despite your mistake, we became friends.
  • His first mistake was playing keno.
  • I've made a terrible mistake.
  • One mistake in thousands of operations.
  • Not unless she makes a big mistake...
  • The battle cry was your first mistake.
  • Your sister made a very unfortunate mistake.
  • Beautiful, except for one tiny mistake.
  • Professor Browning would never have made that mistake.
  • Unfortunately, it was a one-in-a-million manufacturing mistake.

Alternatives:

  • error
  • fault
  • blunder
  • slip-up
  • gaffe

The common mistake

This is a correct term in English, but it specifies that the mistake being referred to is one that is frequently made.

Use "the common mistake" when you want to highlight a mistake that is made frequently by many people.

Examples:

  • One common mistake in English is mixing up 'there', 'their', and 'they're'.
  • Avoiding the common mistake of oversleeping before an important meeting is crucial.
  • The common mistake of assuming everyone thinks the same way can lead to misunderstandings.
  • Identifying the common mistake in the experiment helped improve the results.
  • She pointed out the common mistake made by beginners in the sport.
  • All words are checked for the common mistake of holding the shift key down a bit too long. If some words must have two uppercase characters, then those exceptions should be added in the'Exceptions' tab.
  • Oxford mathematician Peter Donnelly reveals the common mistakes humans make in interpreting statistics - and the devastating impact these errors can have on the outcome of criminal trials.
  • You are making the most common mistake of all among EU politicians.
  • It's a common mistake to not ask questions when you want something because you're afraid of the answers.
  • No, it's a common mistake.
  • No, that's a common mistake.
  • It's a common mistake that many people make, yes.
  • They made a very common mistake.
  • Bathrobes do not count... common mistake among gamers.
  • Don't worry. It's a common mistake.
  • Is this Black Guys? Common mistake.
  • But, you know, it's a common mistake.
  • It's a common mistake so just be careful next time.
  • It's a very common mistake.
  • You know, there's a common mistake that some amateurs make when they first start to use a scope.
  • Make sure that more than one space cannot be typed, as this is a common mistake which is quite hard to find in formatted text.
  • No, no, it's a common mistake to not think I was President.
  • You also made a common grammatical mistake.
  • The common fisheries policy must not repeat the tragic mistakes of the common agricultural policy.
  • Georg Jarzembowski drew attention to a mistake in the German version of the common position.

Alternatives:

  • frequent mistake
  • typical mistake
  • often-made mistake
  • recurring mistake
  • widespread mistake

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