Difference between an error and a mistake

[Shelley Norton]

Help!

I am doing a course and one of the questions is What is the difference between an error and a mistake. I have limited resources where i live and can find very little information that shows there is a difference.

I have to write an essay of around 500 words. In my book there is very little difference other than the wy it would be used in a sentence and the very obvious - they are differnet words !

[Alan]

Hi Shelley,

Putting it briefly both error and mistake in language indicate that something is wrong/incorrect. The error is as it were ingrained because the user doesn't know the correct form For a learner of English for example a common error is to omit the final 's' in the third person singular of the present simple - He speak instead of He speaks. The mistake on the other hand is something that is wrong often by accident. For example I could write 'occasion' with double 's' and that would be a spelling mistake.

Just a few thoughts.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Phrasal Verbs/take

[Alan]

Hi Shelley,

Welcome to the site. Tell us more about yourself and how you found the site, if you wish.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story A day in the life of a parliamentary candidate