a costly error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a costly error" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a mistake that has significant financial implications or consequences. Example: "The company faced severe financial losses due to a costly error in their budgeting process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

42 human-written examples

That turned out to be a costly error.

The Guardian - Business

That said, for Miliband, a "safety first" strategy would be a costly error.

The Guardian

It was a costly error by Hayne, who endured a torrid night in the No1 jersey.

The Guardian - Sport

The Jamaican women regained the world title from the U.S., again helped by a costly error.

Independent

He added, "It was a costly error on my part that lost us a lot of momentum".

The New York Times - Sports

Photo: Sloppy play by the Mets, including a costly error by Jose Offerman, helped the Marlins win, 7-3.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

Barrett warns against writing abstracts with the assumption that your hypotheses are true--a costly error that "has doomed many applications," she says.

Science Magazine

The results confirm that the genetic-type nanocomposite damping optimization making use of a sound mechanical model of the material response can be an effective design method providing the right mix of phases overcoming a costly error-and-trial approach to manufacturing and testing.

Composite Structures

Ed Hochuli, the high-profile official who made headlines last year with his blown call of a Jay Cutler fumble, made a nearly costly error Sunday night.

The New York Times - Sports

The FCC's alternative decision to create a bifurcated system with conflicting and confusing rules was a deeply costly error that only undermines consumer privacy and disrupts and degrades competition, as well as consumer choice.

Forbes

Turning it into a scapegoat to make the banks happy could prove to be a very costly error for all concerned.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a costly error" to underscore the negative consequences of a mistake, whether financial, reputational, or operational. This phrase is appropriate when the impact is significant and measurable.

Common error

Avoid using "a costly error" to describe insignificant mistakes. Reserve it for situations where the consequences are truly substantial, maintaining its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a costly error" functions as a noun phrase, where 'costly' modifies 'error', indicating a significant negative impact. Ludwig examples show its use in describing mistakes with serious repercussions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a costly error" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a mistake with significant negative consequences. Ludwig examples demonstrate its frequent use in news, sports, and business contexts. The phrase is best used when the error's impact is measurable and substantial. While versatile, overuse in minor situations can diminish its impact. Alternative phrases include "an expensive mistake" or "a damaging blunder". Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's validity, making it a reliable choice for impactful communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an expensive mistake

Replaces "costly" with "expensive", focusing on the financial aspect.

a pricey error

Similar to "expensive mistake", focusing on the financial cost of the error.

a damaging blunder

Substitutes "error" with "blunder" and "costly" with "damaging", highlighting the detrimental effects.

a serious miscalculation

Replaces "error" with "miscalculation" and "costly" with "serious", emphasizing the flawed reasoning behind the mistake.

a regrettable oversight

Substitutes "error" with "oversight" and "costly" with "regrettable", softening the tone while still indicating a negative consequence.

an unfortunate mistake

Replaces "costly" with "unfortunate", focusing on the bad luck or circumstances surrounding the error.

a consequential slip-up

Uses "slip-up" instead of "error" and "consequential" instead of "costly" to indicate significant repercussions.

a fatal flaw

Emphasizes the severity of the error by describing it as a "fatal flaw".

a major failing

Replaces "error" with "failing" and "costly" with "major", highlighting the significance of the mistake.

a critical mistake

Uses "critical" to emphasize the importance and negative impact of the error.

FAQs

How can I use "a costly error" in a sentence?

Use "a costly error" to describe a mistake that has significant negative consequences, such as "The company faced bankruptcy due to "a costly error" in its financial projections."

What are some synonyms for "a costly error"?

Alternatives to "a costly error" include "an expensive mistake", "a damaging blunder", or "a serious miscalculation" depending on the context.

Is "costly error" formal or informal?

The phrase "a costly error" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in news and business writing.

What makes an error "costly"?

An error is considered "costly" when it leads to significant financial losses, reputational damage, operational setbacks, or other substantial negative outcomes.