When we make a mistake or mess up, sometimes we wish for a better way to express it than "I screwed up." Thankfully, English offers plenty of synonyms to suit any situation. For a more formal tone, one might say "I made an error" or "I made a mistake." In a more casual setting, "I messed up" or "I goofed" could be used. Other similar phrases include "I flubbed it," "I fumbled it," or "I dropped the ball." No matter which phrase is chosen, it's important to take responsibility for our mistakes and strive to learn from them.