Oversite vs. Oversight – Which Spelling Is Correct?

It can sometimes be difficult to spell a word correctly, especially when you consider just how many words the English language has. In this article, we’ll be looking at the words “oversite” and “oversight”. Are they both correct? If they are, do they mean the same thing? Read on to find out!

Oversite vs. Oversight – Which Spelling Is Correct?

“Oversight”, not “oversite”, is the correct spelling of the noun which refers to “a failure to notice something”. “Oversite” is also correct, but it is a term used in construction. It can refer to a layer of concrete that is found underneath flooring.

Both “oversight” and “oversite” are words that exist in the English language. However, these words are not synonymous and cannot be used interchangeably with one another.

When you are referring to the word that means “the failure to notice something”, the correct word to use is “oversight”, not “oversite”.

On the other hand, when you are using the word in the context of construction, the word to use is “oversite”, This can refer to a layer of concrete found at the base of flooring. It can also be used in the context of construction as an adjective that means “on the ground”.

Be sure not to confuse the two words, because the words “oversite” and “oversight” both refer to completely different things.

Oversite

“Oversite” is a term used in construction that can mean “on the ground” or refer to the layer of concrete found below flooring.

“Oversite” is not a word that you will often hear in regular day-to-day conversation, unless you work in the field of construction. It is a technical construction term that can refer to the layer of concrete found below flooring. It can also refer to things that are on the ground.

Below are examples of how to correctly use the word “oversite” in a sentence:

1. The construction workers are looking for some gravel to use on the oversite of my uncle’s new house.
2. You better be careful, or else you’ll trip on the oversite slab.
3. How do you make a concrete oversite?
4. Laying the oversite foundation is Dana’s favorite part of constructing a building.
5. What are the types of oversite concrete?

Oversight

“Oversight” is a noun that means “a failure to notice something”.

When you want to talk about a mistake that someone made because he or she failed to notice something, the correct word to use is “oversight”.

The Cambridge Dictionary defines the word as “a mistake that is made because of a failure to notice a fact or an occurrence”. It can also be used to refer to the responsibility one has over a particular task.

Below are examples of how to correctly use the word “oversight” in a sentence:

1. It appears as though there may have been an oversight in the blueprints.
2. Hannah is missing money from her account, perhaps due to the bank’s oversight.
3. Donna has oversight over next month’s main charity project.
4. Is the typographical error in the title of your novel an oversight, or was it done intentionally?
5. We sincerely apologize for this oversight, and we hope that you do not hold it against us or this establishment.
6. Your paper is riddled with several minor oversights.
7. The lack of a fire exit in this club is a major oversight.

Which Is Used the Most?

“Oversight”, rather than the word “oversite”, is the form of the word that is more popularly used, based on data from Google Ngram Viewer.

Google Ngram Viewer allows us to compare how often certain words, such as “oversite” and “oversight” are used in a wide range of books. According to data from books written in English that were published between the years 1900 to 2019, we can safely say that “oversight” is more popular than the word “oversite”.

This makes sense, given that “oversite” is a technical term used in construction. Meanwhile, “oversight” is a word that can be used in many different types of conversations, from formal to informal.

Final Thoughts

Both “oversight” and “oversite” are correct. They are, however, not synonymous nor interchangeable with one another. “Oversight” means “a failure to notice something”, while “oversite” is a term used in construction.