Confusion of Bound Variables

Mistake
Let $\mathbf A$ be the WFF of predicate logic:
 * $\forall x: ( \exists y: x < y )$

Suppose we wished to substitute $y$ for $x$.

If we paid no heed to whether $y$ were free for $x$, we would obtain:
 * $\forall y: ( \exists y: y < y )$

This is plainly false for the natural numbers, but $\forall x: \exists y: x < y$ is true (just take $y = x + 1$).

This problem is called confusion of bound variables.

Resolution
In formal systems with the language of predicate calculus, substitution is restricted to substitution for free occurrences.

Since $x$ is in the WFF $(\exists y: x < y)$, it is by definition not the case that $y$ is free for $x$.

Thus this substitution is not asserted to preserve truth.