a crucial error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a crucial error" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant mistake that has important consequences or implications. Example: "The team discovered a crucial error in the calculations that could affect the entire project outcome."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

But they made a crucial error by excising its history.

The New York Times

A crucial error by Rigobert Song, the Cameroon captain, led to Aboutreika's goal.

The New York Times - Sports

Jeter played poorly in the decisive Game 6 of the World Series, going 0 for 4 and making a crucial error.

The New York Times - Sports

Jarryd Hayne, playing his second match at fullback for the Titans, then came up with a crucial error to allow the Cowboys to extend their lead.

The Guardian - Sport

Matsui homered and tripled for the Yankees, driving in two runs, but he committed a crucial error in the seventh inning.

The New York Times - Sports

But City hit back almost immediately, Thibaut Courtois making a crucial error to mistime a cross that fell to the feet of Aguero.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Researchers from a university and Google demonstrate a crucial error-correction step needed to make quantum computing practical.

MIT Technology Review

Homologous recombination (HR) is a crucial error-free pathway for repairing a diverse array of potentially lethal lesions.

DNA Repair

Astros shortstop Julio Lugo has suffered through a terrible series, making three errors, including a crucial throwing error in Game 2 that led to the only run in Atlanta's victory.

The New York Times - Sports

And Liukin could have beaten Johnson at nationals, too, if not for a few crucial errors Thursday in her floor exercise routine.

The New York Times - Sports

If true, with that crucial error in judgment, a character issue for a low-stakes race became a national issue.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a crucial error", ensure the context clearly explains the consequences of the mistake. This provides the reader with a complete understanding of its significance.

Common error

Avoid using "a crucial error" for minor mistakes. Reserve this phrase for situations where the error genuinely has significant or far-reaching consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a crucial error" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific mistake considered highly significant. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Sports

20%

Science

16%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Opinion

4%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a crucial error" is a noun phrase used to describe a significant mistake with important consequences. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used across various contexts, especially in news, sports, and scientific reporting. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clarifies the impact of the mistake. While alternatives like "a key error" or "a vital mistake" exist, "a crucial error" effectively conveys the gravity of the situation. Remember to avoid overstating the impact of the error and reserve it for truly significant mistakes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a key error

Synonymous, emphasizes the importance of the error.

a vital mistake

Replaces "crucial" with "vital", highlighting the essential nature of what was missed.

a decisive mistake

Focuses on the impact of the error on the final result.

a critical fault

Uses "fault" instead of "error", suggesting a defect or failing.

a significant oversight

Highlights the act of overlooking something important.

a grave blunder

Emphasizes the seriousness and clumsiness of the error.

a major lapse

Focuses on a temporary failure in judgment or attention.

a fateful misstep

Implies that the error had significant, often negative, consequences.

an irreparable mistake

Highlights that the error is not able to be rectified.

a catastrophic failure

Emphasizes the extreme and destructive consequences of the error.

FAQs

How to use "a crucial error" in a sentence?

Use "a crucial error" to describe a mistake that has significant consequences. For instance, "The company made "a crucial error" in its financial projections, leading to substantial losses."

What can I say instead of "a crucial error"?

You can use alternatives like "a key error", "a vital mistake", or "a significant oversight" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "a crucial error" or "an crucial error"?

"A crucial error" is correct. The article "a" is used before words that begin with a consonant sound, while "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What's the difference between "a crucial error" and "a simple mistake"?

"A crucial error" implies that the mistake had serious consequences or significant impact, whereas "a simple mistake" suggests a minor, inconsequential error.