Mistaken someone for someone else vs Mistaken someone as someone else

Both phrases are commonly used, but 'mistaken someone for someone else' is more widely accepted and preferred in English. 'Mistaken someone as someone else' is less common and may sound awkward to some native speakers.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 2459 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Mistaken someone for someone else"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone has confused one person with another person.

Examples:

I'm sorry, I think you've mistaken me for someone else.
She mistook her neighbor for her sister.
He often mistakes his students for each other.

Show examples from the web [+]

You could have mistaken someone else for her.
I'm sorry, you must have me mistaken for someone else.
I think you have mistaken me for someone else.
You've mistaken me for someone else.
She must've mistaken you for someone else.
Maligned, misunderstood, And mistaken for someone else.
He said that the man had mistaken him for someone else.
He must have mistaken you for someone else.
He must have mistaken you for someone else.
She's mistaken me for someone else.
No, I'm sure you've mistaken me for someone else.
I'm sorry, sir. I think you have me mistaken for someone else.
First, you're the outraged Madison Avenue man who claims he's been mistaken for someone else.
"You've mistaken me for someone else," this girl was sure that Marisol was Professor Suarez.
Cary Grant plays an ad exec who gets mistaken for someone else, and it just completely turns his life upside down.
I'm afraid you must have me mistaken for someone else, for as you can surely see, madam, I am the devil.
I'm sure you're a very nice man, but I think you may have mistaken me for someone else.
Pastor Patricia said I should do something for someone else.
Save your seduction for someone else.
That table is reserved for someone else.

Alternatives:

confused someone with someone else
mixed someone up with someone else
misidentified someone as someone else
confounded someone for someone else
misunderstood someone to be someone else

This phrase is less common but still used in English.

"Mistaken someone as someone else "

This phrase is also used to indicate confusion between two people, but it may sound awkward to some native speakers.

Examples:

She mistakenly identified him as her brother.
He often mistakenly sees his boss as his father.
They mistook the actor as the director.

Show examples from the web [+]

You could have mistaken someone else for her.
So you go to Mexico, change identities, spend the next nine years as someone else.
Our daughter started life as someone else's child.
They must always see you as someone else.
I'm going as someone else.
And his integrity is just as good as someone else.
We often see it as someone else's misfortune until it strikes home.
I'm not returning as someone else.
And ben was accidentally referred to as someone else.
We all go as someone else.
You just look like you're going to a costume party as someone else.
So you're fine As long as someone else volunteers -
But then he started talking to me as someone else would.
Because I recognize the same spirit in you... as someone else I know.
Sofia, I don't want to have to tell Daniel that you might be coming back on Monday as someone else's wife.
I know from experience what it's like to watch from the outside as someone else walks away with the person you want.
But when you spend too much time living as someone else, sometimes the people you care about most begin to wonder who you really are.
And now she's afraid to be caught dead wearing the same dress as someone else ever again.
And then he relieved the pain and he put you back together again as someone else.
International cooperation cannot continue to be a problem for Africa, as someone else has said.

Alternatives:

confused someone with someone else
mixed someone up with someone else
misidentified someone as someone else
confounded someone for someone else
misunderstood someone to be someone else

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Mistaken someone for someone else vs Mistaken someone as someone else