Have you ever made a mistake at work and didn’t know what to say?
Listen in today as Lindsay and Michelle answer a listener’s question about this.
You’ll learn phrases you can use to say you made a mistake at work.
By accident
Michelle asks Lindsay if she has ever insulted someone by accident.
Lindsay responds that this may have happened but it was unintentional.
She has made comments that were taken the wrong way.
Michelle agrees that it can be inadvertent but we then feel badly for insulting someone.
Today, Lindsay and Michelle are going to answer a listener’s question about some very important expressions and phrases involving mistakes.
Today’s question
I am Victor writing from Taiwan. I’ve been a long-time listener for a couple of years. Your voice and laughter have been a great companion for me while I commute daily. I’ve learned so much and picked up new vocabs and phrases naturally from all the great work you put together in the three channels of All Ears English. Thank you so much. You guys are a hidden gem for those who learn English as their second language.
Recently, I got confused with several synonyms of the phrase “by accident”. I heard people use “by fluke”, “by accident”, and “by mistake” from time to time. I am curious about other alternatives and wonder if these are all interchangeable or there’s actually subtle differences among them.
I hope this will get answered. Thank you so much once again for all your incredible work.
This is such a great question that involves English expressions that can be easily used in the workplace and in your daily conversations.
If you can explain that you did something wrong and it was unintentional, it is very valuable to make sure you don’t break any connections at work.
Mistakes at work
Lindsay and Michelle go through this question and share what each phrase in Victor’s question means.
Everyone makes mistakes at work.
It’s vital to have the words to say to let your colleagues at work know you made a mistake or gave offense that you didn’t intend.
They also share why these are helpful for business.
Here they are:
#1: By accident
This means you made a mistake that had consequences you didn’t intend.
You can use this to say you didn’t mean to do something.
Often you may hear a child say, “I didn’t mean to hit her. It was by accident!”
Here are some examples you may hear this phrase being used at work:
- Oh no. I called the meeting for lunch by accident. I’ll send out the updated time.
- If you don’t hit this button by accident, it’s ok because the system will automatically update itself.
There is also a more formal way to use this that is appropriate work.
You can use ‘accident’ in many other forms:
Accidentally: “I accidentally called you. Sorry about that!”
An accident: “If it was an accident it’s ok, but we just have to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
#2: By mistake
This is also very useful in the business setting.
There is a subtle difference between accident and mistake.
A ‘mistake’ may imply that it was something more serious.
An ‘accident’ sounds more like a slip of the finger or something you couldn’t stop from happening.
Here are some examples:
- I emailed the whole team by mistake. I’m so embarrassed.
- She mistakenly put in a few wrong numbers. Can we review this?
- It was a mistake to have the whole team vote on the new hire.
#3: A fluke
This means something random and coincidental happened, but it is not a very common phrase.
You say ‘a fluke’ not ‘by fluke.’
You can use this to say something happened that is unusual and there is no real reason for it.
Here is an example:
- Michelle’s internet crashed as they were recording and they thought it was just a fluke because it happened all of a sudden.
Other phrases and expressions about making mistakes
Aside from the phrase asked by Victor, there are synonyms that you can use to add variety on how to talk about your mistakes at work.
All these words are slightly different in terms of formality and meaning.
#1: Unintentionally
This means you didn’t mean for something to happen.
It’s an accident and it wasn’t planned.
Example:
I unintentionally made her feel bad when I told her to review her work.
#2: Inadvertently
This is also a very high-level way to say you did something unintentionally.
You didn’t mean to do something, often because you were unaware about details.
Usually, this means you didn’t make a mistake but because of your actions there was an unintended result.
Example:
Without realizing it, I inadvertently confused our clients. I think I have to set up a meeting to clarify this.
#3: Didn’t mean to X
This is the most similar to ‘by accident’ but is more informal.
Aside from the other examples, this makes you admit you made an error and you are sorry about it.
Example:
I didn’t mean to call you! I meant to call Kylie.
Roleplay
Here is a quick roleplay from Lindsay and Michelle using the English expressions shared in today’s episode.
This will help you understand more clearly how you can use the terms in an English conversation.
In this scenario, Lindsay and Michelle are going over a recent report they sent out.
Michelle: So I think it all looked good. Uh oh.
Lindsay: What?
Michelle: I accidentally also sent this to Horace.
Lindsay: That’s not good.
Michelle: I know. Oh gosh. It was a mistake. I’m sorry.
Lindsay: It’s ok. We can fix this. You didn’t mean to do it.
Michelle: No, it was completely unintentional.
Lindsay: I know, I know. Ok. Damage control.
Michelle: Yes, I’ll just call him. He’s a little unhappy with me though because I inadvertently insulted him when I said I don’t think our presentations have been as strong recently. He took it too personally.
Lindsay: We can figure this out.
Takeaway
When you make a mistake at work, use the variety of phrases and expressions shared in today’s episode to explain yourself clearly.
Create a stronger relationship when you are able to let someone know you did something wrong and you’re going to make it right.
Communication is very important, especially in the workplace.
This applies whether you are discussing a project, engaging in simple work banter, or apologizing for a mistake you made.
You need to have enough vocabulary to let colleagues or your superior know what you’re doing.
Business English episodes can help you build your vocabulary so you can easily communicate and express yourself with confidence.
You can check out episode BE 376: In Limbo at Work? How to Get Through It to talk about being unsure about something in a professional way.
Remember to focus on Connection NOT Perfection.™
What other business vocabulary do you want to learn more about?
Let us know in the comments below.
