What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
misstep
Example
She took a misstep and fell down the stairs. [misstep: noun]
Example
The company's misstep in marketing led to a decrease in sales. [misstep: noun]
Example
He made a misstep by not showing up to the meeting on time. [misstep: noun]
mistake
Example
I made a mistake in my calculations and got the wrong answer. [mistake: noun]
Example
She mistook me for her sister and greeted me warmly. [mistook: past tense of mistake]
Example
He realized he had made a mistake in choosing his major and decided to switch. [mistake: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mistake is more commonly used than misstep in everyday language. Mistake is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while misstep is less common and refers to specific physical or social situations.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between misstep and mistake?
Both misstep and mistake are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
