a severe error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe error" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant mistake or problem that has serious consequences. Example: "The system crashed due to a severe error in the code that went unnoticed during testing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Romney said: "I think he made a severe error in saying what he did about Mexican Americans and I feel it was unfortunate".

The Guardian

That perspective is supported by one of the interview subjects in "The Mafia Psyche," a man identified only as "Collaborator C". "It's a severe error," the man tells Lo Verso, laughing at the thought of a don in analysis.

The New York Times - Magazine

During the sentencing, which lasted more than an hour and a half, Mr. Haggerty's lawyers portrayed him as an honorable, well-respected man who had made a severe error.

The New York Times

And former Chairman Tom Wheeler made a severe error when, upon being asked what types of practices could be found to be unreasonable, replied "we don't really know".

TechCrunch

The commission's claim that EFSI projects could replace the science done under Horizon 2020 was "a severe error," Science Europe argues.

Science Magazine

However, the performance of the FIC scheme is significantly degraded due to a severe error propagation during the ISI cancellation where the ISI is mitigated by performing a forward-and-backward successive interference cancellation (FB-SIC).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

PACT decreased the prevalence of any medication error at discharge (adjusted OR 0.07 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.15)); number needed to treat (NNT) 3 (95% CI 2 to 3) and no PACT patient experienced a potentially severe error (NNT 20, 95% CI 10 to 142).

BMJ Quality and Safety

For the formal statistical analysis, when there was more than one error on a prescription, only the most severe error was included.

BMJ Open

Unfortunately, this mistake was the result of a severe human error and we apologize for what viewers ultimately saw on the screen.

Huffington Post

A limiting factor of clipping, as well as DAR clipping, is that as the number of peak amplitudes increases, this would lead to a severe bit error rate (BER) degradation.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

In a statement apologizing for showing the footage, executive vice-president of news editorial Michael Clemente said that the broadcast the result of "a severe human error". The local Fox affiliate in Phoenix, which supplied the live feed, employed a seven-second delay, and cut away from the footage without showing the suicide.

HuffPost

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a severe error", ensure the context clearly indicates the magnitude and consequences of the mistake. This helps to convey the gravity of the situation accurately.

Common error

Avoid using "a severe error" for minor mistakes. This can diminish the impact when describing genuinely serious errors.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a severe error" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a mistake or fault characterized by its gravity and potential impact. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

17%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a severe error" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to describe a significant mistake with serious implications. As indicated by Ludwig AI, it is appropriate for formal and professional contexts. While not exceedingly common, it effectively conveys the gravity of a situation, particularly in news, scientific, and business settings. Remember to use this phrase judiciously to maintain its impact and avoid diluting its meaning with trivial mistakes. Consider alternatives like "a critical mistake" or "a grave mistake" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a critical mistake

Emphasizes the importance and potential consequences of the error.

a major blunder

Implies a significant and often embarrassing mistake.

a grave mistake

Highlights the serious nature and potential repercussions of the error.

a serious fault

Focuses on the defect or flaw that caused the error.

a significant oversight

Suggests that the error was due to a failure to notice something important.

a disastrous error

Highlights the catastrophic consequences of the error.

a terrible mistake

Emphasizes the negative impact and unpleasantness of the error.

a costly error

Focuses on the financial or resource-related consequences of the error.

a fundamental flaw

Indicates a deep-seated problem that underlies the error.

a regrettable error

Highlights the feeling of sorrow or disappointment associated with the error.

FAQs

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

You can use "a severe error" to describe a significant mistake with serious consequences. For example: "The system failure was due to "a severe error" in the initial design."

What are some alternatives to saying "a severe error"?

Alternatives include "a critical mistake", "a grave mistake", or "a major blunder" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "severe mistake" or "a severe error"?

Both are acceptable, but "a severe error" is often preferred in formal writing. "Mistake" and "error" are largely interchangeable in this context.

What's the difference between "a severe error" and "a minor error"?

"A severe error" implies significant consequences and a substantial problem, while "a minor error" indicates a small, easily correctable mistake with little impact.