A small number of errors

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "A small number of errors" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a few mistakes or inaccuracies in a document, report, or any other context where errors are being discussed. Example: "After reviewing the report, I found a small number of errors that need to be corrected before submission."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

A small number of errors was present within 50 bp of the ends of the combined data contigs in both genomes (5 errors in Nandina and 6 errors in Platanus).

BMC Plant Biology

See articleAn internal Israeli army investigation concluded that, despite a small number of errors, the army kept within the bounds of international law during the assault on the Gaza Strip three months ago.

The Economist

Those who are skeptical of global warming science have been invigorated by a small number of errors in the landmark 2007 report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The New York Times

Automatic conversion will usually have a small number of errors, but mainly in that fields will not be recognized, rather than corrupted.

Journal of Cheminformatics

Data curation is important for two main reasons: (1) Publically available data sets may contain multiple errors; (2) even a small number of errors may compromise the quality of QSAR models [11].

Journal of Cheminformatics

Novices were competent players and had no difficulties in distinguishing between different chess pieces as indicated by a small number of errors (see File S1) and rather fast reaction times (Figure 1C D).

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

The three-alternative forced choice procedure was adopted for vowels based on the results of pilot experiments that found that the two-alternative procedure produced a small number of discrimination errors with vowels; the three-choice procedure was adopted to increase the number of errors and to avoid a ceiling effect.

Plosone

A spokesman for HMRC says: "For the vast majority of borrowers our processes work correctly but in a small number of cases errors do occur.

The Guardian - Money

In the wake of that year's report, a small number of embarrassing errors were detected in the underlying material.

BBC

First, we show the severe performance degradation caused by a small number of stuck errors.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Their identification in B. anynana was carried out as described in [25], by grouping the FI-markers together with JOINMAP under strict conditions (LOD >8), allowing just a small number of genotyping errors.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small number of errors", ensure that the context clearly indicates the impact or significance of these errors, even if they are few. For instance, in scientific research, even a small number of errors can compromise results.

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the consequences of "a small number of errors". While it's important to acknowledge mistakes, overemphasizing their impact can undermine credibility. Instead, focus on corrective actions and preventative measures.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small number of errors" functions as a noun phrase. It typically acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence, quantifying the extent of inaccuracies. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small number of errors" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to acknowledge the existence of inaccuracies while downplaying their significance. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and usability. This phrase is most frequently found in scientific and news media contexts, indicating a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, be mindful of the context and avoid exaggerating the impact of the errors. Consider alternative phrases like "few errors" or "minimal errors" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Few errors

This alternative replaces "a small number of" with "few", offering a more concise expression.

A limited number of mistakes

This option uses "mistakes" instead of "errors" and "limited" instead of "small", providing a slightly different nuance.

Minimal errors

This alternative uses the adjective "minimal" to emphasize the small quantity of errors.

A handful of errors

Replaces "a small number" with "a handful", providing a more descriptive alternative.

A minor quantity of errors

Replaces "small" with "minor" and "number" with "quantity", adding a touch of formality.

A trickle of errors

This alternative uses "trickle" to suggest a slow and almost insignificant flow of errors.

A scattering of errors

This option uses "scattering" to imply that the errors are dispersed and not concentrated.

Sparse errors

The adjective "sparse" suggests that errors are infrequent and thinly distributed.

Scant errors

This option utilizes "scant" to indicate that the errors are barely sufficient or adequate in number.

Isolated errors

This emphasizes that the errors are not part of a larger pattern, but are individually occurring.

FAQs

How can I use "A small number of errors" in a sentence?

You can use "A small number of errors" to indicate a limited quantity of mistakes. For example, "The report contained "a small number of errors" which were quickly corrected.

What are some alternatives to saying "A small number of errors"?

Alternatives include "few errors", "minimal errors", or "a limited number of mistakes".

Is it always acceptable to have "A small number of errors"?

While "a small number of errors" might be acceptable in some contexts, it's always best to strive for accuracy. The acceptability depends on the context and the potential impact of the errors.

What does "A small number of errors" imply about the overall quality?

The phrase implies that while mistakes exist, they are not widespread and do not significantly detract from the overall quality. However, the significance of even "a small number of errors" depends on the context.