Η φίλη μου προτιμά να ζητήσει διευκρίνιση παρά να κάνει λάθος στην υποβολή της αίτησης.

In Modern Greek, the weak possessive form μου usually comes after the noun:

• η φίλη μου = my friend
• ο αδερφός μου = my brother

Greek also normally keeps the definite article with possessed nouns, so η φίλη μου is the standard pattern.

If you want extra emphasis, Greek can use δικός:

• η δική μου φίλη = my own friend / my friend (emphatic)

So η φίλη μου is the normal, natural way to say it.

The dictionary form is προτιμώ = I prefer.

In the sentence, προτιμά is the 3rd person singular present:

• εγώ προτιμώ = I prefer
• αυτή προτιμά = she prefers

So Η φίλη μου προτιμά... means My friend prefers...

Modern Greek does not normally use an infinitive the way English does. Instead, it usually uses:

να + verb

So:

• prefers to ask → προτιμά να ζητήσει
• rather than make → παρά να κάνει

These να-clauses are the normal Greek way to express what English often does with to + verb.

ζητήσει is used because it presents the action as a single complete act: asking for clarification once, in that situation.

So here:

• να ζητήσει διευκρίνιση = to ask for clarification

If Greek used να ζητά / να ζητάει, it would sound more like an ongoing, repeated, or habitual action:

• να ζητά διευκρίνιση = to be asking for clarification / to ask repeatedly

In this sentence, the idea is one concrete action, so ζητήσει is the natural choice.

Here παρά means rather than.

The pattern is:

• προτιμά να X παρά να Y
• she prefers to X rather than Y

So:

• προτιμά να ζητήσει διευκρίνιση παρά να κάνει λάθος
• she prefers to ask for clarification rather than make a mistake

This is a very common structure.

Because the noun is being used in a general, nonspecific way.

• να ζητήσει διευκρίνιση = to ask for clarification
• not to ask for the clarification

If you added the article, it would sound more specific:

• να ζητήσει τη διευκρίνιση = to ask for the clarification

So without the article, the sentence means clarification in general, not one already identified clarification.

Because κάνω λάθος is a very common fixed expression in Greek.

It means:

• to make a mistake
• or sometimes to be wrong

So:

• να κάνει λάθος = to make a mistake / to be mistaken

You can say να κάνει ένα λάθος, but that usually sounds more like to make one particular mistake. In this sentence, the simpler idiomatic expression κάνει λάθος is the most natural.

Yes. The subject of both actions is the same person: η φίλη μου.

So Greek does not need to repeat the subject:

• Η φίλη μου προτιμά να ζητήσει... παρά να κάνει...

Both verbs refer to she.

This is just like English:

• My friend prefers to ask... rather than make...

You do not need to say she again unless you want emphasis or the subject changes.

στην is the contraction of:

• σε + την = στην

So στην υποβολή literally means in the submission.

In more natural English, depending on context, it can mean:

• in the submission
• during the submission
• when submitting

Here it tells you where the mistake would happen: in the process of submitting the application.

Because υποβολή is a noun, and Greek often uses the genitive after nouns to mean of.

So:

• η υποβολή της αίτησης = the submission of the application

Compare that with the verb:

• υποβάλλω την αίτηση = I submit the application

So:

• after the noun υποβολή → της αίτησης
• after the verb υποβάλλω → την αίτηση

Because υποβολή της αίτησης sounds natural in a somewhat formal or administrative context.

Greek often uses noun phrases like this in official-style language:

• υποβολή της αίτησης = submission of the application
• έκδοση του πιστοποιητικού = issuance of the certificate

A more verbal version would also be possible, but this noun-based phrasing is very common when talking about forms, applications, procedures, and bureaucracy.

Yes, it sounds neutral to somewhat formal.

That feeling comes mostly from vocabulary such as:

• διευκρίνιση
• υποβολή
• αίτηση

These are common words in official, academic, or administrative situations. The grammar itself is standard and normal; it is mainly the topic and word choice that make the sentence feel a bit formal.