Cool MateDoing it wrong vs Mistake
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Doing it wrong
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Mistake
Top 1,000 (very common)A1noun
Most formal: MistakeMost common: Mistake
| Doing it wrong | Mistake | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈduːɪŋ ɪt rɒŋ//🇺🇸 //ˈduːɪŋ ɪt rɔŋ// | 🇬🇧 /["/mɪˈsteɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/mɪˈsteɪk/"]/ |
| Meaning | Making a mistake when doing something. | An error or something done wrongly. |
| Example | He was really doing it wrong when he tried to fix the car himself. | I made a mistake on my homework. |
| Register | Informal | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | noun | |
| Collocations | doing it wrong on purpose, doing it wrong accidentally, stop doing it wrong | big, colossal, great, make, commit, repeat, happen, occur, by mistake, mistake about, all a mistake, an easy mistake to make, make the mistake of doing something, big, colossal, great, make, commit, repeat, happen, occur, by mistake, mistake about, all a mistake, an easy mistake to make, make the mistake of doing something |
| Antonyms | - | correct, success |
| Common mistakes | Using in formal contexts where a more polite phrase is needed., Confusing with 'doing it right' which means the opposite., Overusing in situations where a simple explanation suffices. | 'Mistakes' as a singular instead of plural (e.g., saying 'a mistake' when referring to multiple errors)., Confusing 'mistake' with 'error', where 'mistake' is more general., Using 'mistake' without a clear object (e.g., saying 'I made a mistake' is fine, but 'I made' alone is unclear). |
| Usage notes | Use when discussing mistakes in casual conversations. Avoid in formal writing or presentations. | Used in both casual and formal contexts. It’s appropriate in everyday conversation but can also be used in professional discussions about errors. |
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Frequently asked questions: Doing it wrong vs Mistake
What's the difference between Doing it wrong and Mistake?
Doing it wrong: Making a mistake when doing something. Mistake: An error or something done wrongly.
Which is more formal: Doing it wrong and Mistake?
Mistake is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Doing it wrong and Mistake?
Mistake is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Doing it wrong: He was really doing it wrong when he tried to fix the car himself. Mistake: I made a mistake on my homework.
Can I use Doing it wrong and Mistake interchangeably?
Not always. Doing it wrong and Mistake are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.