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 • 1012 views

This is a correct and commonly used term in English.

"mistake"

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.

Show examples from the web [+]

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

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

"The common mistake "

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.

Show examples from the web [+]

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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mistake vs The common mistake

"mistake"

"The common mistake "

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