Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[woodsky]

Any native speakers could tell me the difference between "fault" and "mistake"?

I'd like to express that I did something wrong and should take the responsibility.

Then which one of the following sentences is better to express my meaning?

"It's my fault."

"It's my mistake."


Thanks in advance.


woodsky

[asterix]

If you want to admit responsibility for something you would use fault.
e.g. It was my fault the horse ran away; I forgot to shut the stable door.

Forgetting to shut the stable door was a mistake.
When you say "It was my fault the horse ran away" you are accepting responsibilty for the results of a mistake you made (forgetting to close the stable door).

Mistake means an incorrect idea or opinion and it also means a thing incorrectly done or thought or an error of judgement.

fault means a defect or imperfection of character or of a structure.
Another meaning is a transgression or offence, or a thing wrongly done..
And the meaning you want here is ; responsibility for wrongdoing, error, etc.
There are other meanings too, in tennis, showjumping, geology and electricity but I think you are not interested in those here.

[woodsky]

asterix, thank you very much.