omission
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omission
The failure to perform an action that should or had to have been done. It describes a breach of duty through inaction or an omission caused by negligence.
Das Versäumnis, die Frist einzuhalten, hatte schwerwiegende finanzielle Konsequenzen.
The omission of meeting the deadline had serious financial consequences.
The noun 'Versäumnis' (omission) is derived from the verb 'versäumen' (to fail to do something / to miss an opportunity). The ending '-nis' turns the verb into a noun that describes the act or result of the action.
Er hat es versäumt, sich rechtzeitig anzumelden.
He failed to register in time.
'Versäumnis' (omission) is a formal word used mainly in written language, official documents, or legal contexts. It is rather rare in everyday conversation.
Dem Antrag wurde wegen eines formellen Versäumnisses nicht stattgegeben.
The application was rejected because of a formal omission.
'Versäumnis' (omission) is very often used with an infinitive construction with 'zu' in order to specify exactly what was not done. The structure is: 'das Versäumnis, etwas zu tun' (the omission/failure to do something).
Sein Versäumnis, die Rechnung zu bezahlen, führte zu Mahngebühren.
His omission of paying the bill led to reminder fees.
Common adjectives that describe 'Versäumnis' (omission) are 'schwerwiegend' (serious), 'grob' (gross), or 'folgenschwer' (far-reaching in its consequences). Typical verbs are 'ein Versäumnis wiedergutmachen' (to make up for an omission) or 'ein Versäumnis zugeben' (to admit an omission).
Das war ein grobes Versäumnis mit teuren Konsequenzen.
That was a gross omission with expensive consequences.
to refrain from / to fail to
Both words refer to an expected action not being carried out. Unterlassen can express a deliberate or neutrally described decision to refrain, while a Versäumnis emphasizes a failure to act in accordance with one’s duty and usually suggests carelessness. Use unterlassen for the action, and Versäumnis for the resulting error.
Das Versäumnis, die Nachricht weiterzuleiten, führte zu Problemen im Team.
The omission of forwarding the message caused problems for the team.
Sie unterließ es bewusst, die private Nachricht an alle Kollegen weiterzuleiten.
She deliberately refrained from forwarding the private message to all her colleagues.
