What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
blunder
Example
He made a blunder by accidentally sending the email to the wrong recipient. [blunder: noun]
Example
She blundered through her presentation, forgetting important points. [blundered: past tense verb]
mistake
Example
I made a mistake by adding too much salt to the recipe. [mistake: noun]
Example
They mistook her for someone else because of their similar appearance. [mistook: past tense verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mistake is more commonly used than blunder in everyday language. Mistake is a versatile word that covers a wide range of contexts, while blunder is less common and usually used to describe more significant or noticeable mistakes.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between blunder and mistake?
While blunder is typically associated with a more formal tone, mistake is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.