Meaning & use
slipups
Last updated
“slipups” is a form of “slipup”.
Meaning
nounplural
Careless mistakes or minor errors, often in a routine task.
Grammar: The singular is 'slipup'; use 'slipups' for more than one mistake.
Patterns
- make slipups
- a series of slipups
- minor slipups
The clerk made a few slipups while entering the data.
Despite several slipups, the project was completed on time.
She rarely makes slipups in her calculations.
Word forms
| singular | slipup |
|---|
Common combinations
- make slipups
- Even experienced workers make slipups now and then.
- minor slipups
- The report contained only minor slipups.
- a series of slipups
- A series of slipups led to the delay.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mistakes
- More general; 'slipups' suggests small, careless errors rather than serious ones.
- errors
- More formal and often used for mistakes in official or technical contexts.
Word family
- slip verb
- To make a mistake or to slide accidentally.
Commonly confused: slipups or slip-up?
slipups vs slip-up
The hyphenated form 'slip-up' is also common; both mean the same thing.
Practice
The new employee made several ______ during her first week.
Choose one answer.
'Slipups' is the plural noun and fits after 'several'. 'Slipup' is singular and would need 'a'. 'Slip up' is a verb phrase, not a noun. 'Slipping up' is a verb form and does not fit the noun position.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “slipups”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.