a great error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a great error" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant mistake or fault in a particular context, such as in discussions about decisions, judgments, or actions. Example: "Failing to consider the potential consequences of the decision was a great error on our part."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

That would be a great error.

The Guardian - Opinion

It would be a great error for a new British government to get into this position".

The Guardian

"Politically it would be a great error for them to act.

The Guardian

If nothing else, it's also enormously useful that Mr. Dingell is no longer suggesting, as he did just eight months ago, that the scientific consensus on global warming may be a "great error".

The New York Times

Kantakouzenos' second departure proved a great error.

Wikipedia

The prisoner claimed that he was a Swedish diplomat and that he was there "through a great error".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The use of interpolation techniques, as we are seeing, introduces a greater error in the predicted future states.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

As a solution, we propose to generate some future states, instead of through the CPS simulator using interpolation techniques (which are much faster and lighter, although they present a greater error).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

If the two sinusoidal waves have similar amplitudes, the evaluation functions shown in Figure 3 interfere with each other, increasing the distortion, which results in a greater error than that when only one sinusoidal wave is used.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

This stems from the fact that a faster polymerase will have a greater error rate.

Plosone

This is prone to a greater error rate than the discrimination of incorporation versus non-incorporation [ 31].

BMC Biotechnology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a great error", ensure the context clearly indicates the severity and consequences of the mistake. This phrase is best suited for situations where the error has significant repercussions.

Common error

Avoid using "a great error" for trivial mistakes. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and credibility when describing truly significant errors. Instead, opt for milder terms like "mistake" or "oversight" for less consequential situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a great error" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a significant mistake. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and suitable for use in written English. The examples provided indicate that it's used to highlight decisions or actions that had notable negative consequences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a great error" is a grammatically sound and valid way to describe a significant mistake. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and suitable for use in written English. It is most commonly found in news articles, scientific literature and wiki articles, carrying a neutral to formal tone. While "a great error" can effectively communicate the weight of a blunder, it's important to avoid overusing it for minor mistakes to maintain its impact. Alternative phrases like "a significant mistake" or "a major blunder" may be more appropriate depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant mistake

Changes the adjective to 'significant', emphasizing the importance of the error.

a major blunder

Replaces 'error' with 'blunder', implying a more careless or foolish mistake.

a grave mistake

Substitutes 'great' with 'grave' to highlight the seriousness of the error.

a critical fault

Uses 'critical fault' instead of 'great error' to indicate a severe flaw.

an egregious mistake

Replaces both 'great' and 'error' to 'egregious mistake', conveying an error that is outstandingly bad or shocking.

a terrible oversight

Changes the phrase to suggest the error was due to a failure to notice something important.

a colossal misjudgment

Replaces 'error' with 'misjudgment', suggesting a mistake in decision-making of great proportion.

a fundamental flaw

Uses 'fundamental flaw' to describe the error, highlighting that it is a basic and critical problem.

a serious lapse

Modifies the phrase to indicate a temporary failure of judgment or concentration, rather than a general error.

a monumental failure

Emphasizes the magnitude of the error by calling it a 'monumental failure'.

FAQs

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

You can use "a great error" to describe a significant mistake or fault. For example, "Failing to consider the potential consequences of the decision was "a great error" on our part."

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

You can use alternatives like "a significant mistake", "a major blunder", or "a grave mistake depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a great error" or "a big mistake"?

Both phrases are correct, but "a great error" suggests a more serious or consequential mistake than "a big mistake". The choice depends on the severity of the error you want to convey.

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

"A great error" implies a significant misjudgment or failure, often with serious consequences, whereas "a simple mistake" suggests a minor and easily rectified oversight.