misstep

[Allen165]

Which would you say?

I've taken a lot of missteps in my life.

I've made a lot of missteps in my life.

Thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

Which would you say?

I've taken a lot of missteps in my life.

I've made a lot of missteps in my life.

Thanks.

I wouldn't use either, if I understand your meaning correctly. I would say "I've made a lot of mistakes in my life".

While a "misstep" does mean an error or a blunder, it's rarely used in place of error or mistake.

 

[euncu]

I wouldn't use either, if I understand your meaning correctly. I would say "I've made a lot of mistakes in my life".

While a "misstep" does mean an error or a blunder, it's rarely used in place of error or mistake.

So, then, if I said something like ; "All my life long, every steps I've taken were all wrong" , would it be what Jasmin165 meant to say (apart from lots and all) and be correct as well ?

 

[RonBee]

So, then, if I said something like ; "All my life long, every steps I've taken were all wrong" , would it be what Jasmin165 meant to say (apart from lots and all) and be correct as well ?

Perhaps:
.

All my life long, every step I've taken was wrong.

​

(That could hardly be true.)

There is an old English saying:
.

There is many a slip betwixt the cup and the lip.

​

 

[Allen165]

Perhaps:
.

All my life long, every step I've taken was wrong.

​

(That could hardly be true.)

There is an old English saying:
.

There is many a slip betwixt the cup and the lip.

​

Would it be correct to say the following?

"All my life, every step I've taken has been wrong."

Thanks.

 

[Raymott]

Would it be correct to say the following?

"All my life, every step I've taken has been wrong."

Thanks.

Yes, or:
"Every step I've taken in life has turned out to be the wrong one."
or "I'm a complete screw-up."

 

[Allen165]

Yes, or:
"Every step I've taken in life has turned out to be the wrong one."
or "I'm a complete screw-up."

I'm assuming that "was wrong" is also correct. My question, then, is why are both "have been wrong" and "was wrong" correct?

I understand the logic behind "has been wrong": my life hasn't ended yet, so I could take more wrong steps. But "was wrong"?

Thanks.

 

[Raymott]

I'm assuming that "was wrong" is also correct.
Some Americans use the simple past.
My question, then, is why are both "have been wrong" and "was wrong" correct?
Every step I've made has been wrong. Present perfect - which I would use.
Every step I made was wrong. Simple past.

I understand the logic behind "has been wrong": my life hasn't ended yet, so I could take more wrong steps. But "was wrong"?
Thanks.

I wouldn't use "was wrong". That is, I wouldn't use the simple past for this sentence unless there was a definite indication for it. Eg. my life is almost over. I've finished making steps.
In AmE, the simple past is sometimes used where others would use the present perfect.
Perhaps Ron could elaborate.