an erroneous number

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an erroneous number" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a number that is incorrect or mistaken in some context, such as calculations, data entries, or reports. Example: "The report was rejected due to an erroneous number in the financial section."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Correction: March 8 , 2001 Thursday An Arts Abroad article on Feb. 28 about the problems of financing Berlin's three opera houses gave an erroneous number from the conductor Daniel Barenboim for the marketing department of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

The New York Times - Arts

An article in Business Day yesterday about plans by the fashion design house of Gianni Versace to sell a minority stake to outsiders included an erroneous number from the company for its stores.

The New York Times

The numbers proposed by SIVEP-Malária are in fact an over estimation since they were based on an old population census [1] which gives an erroneous number of inhabitants for the two localities.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

An analysis of their effects on the entire country's economy could increase this frantic and frequently erroneous number crunching by a significant amount.

Huffington Post

His research does show that a well-known, widely reported N.F.L. statistic is wrong, and that this erroneous number colors our reputations of two of the game's greats.

The New York Times

Common errors included incorrect epidemiological weeks, duplication in reports, errors in case definition and erroneous number of cases.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Correction: January 14 , 2003 Tuesday An article on Jan . 6about a New York State law requiring drivers to yield for pedestrians anywhere in a crosswalk included erroneous numbers from the State Department of Transportation for pedestrian deaths in 2000 in the city and state.

The New York Times

(The A.P. had published the erroneous figures in a table where the numbers were displayed in the wrong rows. It promptly issued a correction, but by then the erroneous numbers had been widely disseminated online).

The New York Times

An earlier version of this article misstated, because of erroneous numbers supplied by the company, the number of paid digital subscribers in March to the Web site, e-reader and other digital editions of The New York Times and The International Herald Tribune.

The New York Times

None of ABC's preliminary findings dealt directly with how the erroneous numbers had come to be disseminated.

The New York Times

They say Towers Perrin, and the pension plan's administrators, continued to use erroneous numbers, causing further deterioration.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an erroneous number", ensure the context clearly identifies what the number represents and why it is considered incorrect. This provides clarity and prevents misinterpretation.

Common error

Avoid using "an erroneous number" without specifying its impact or relevance. Failing to explain why the number's inaccuracy matters can diminish the statement's overall significance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an erroneous number" functions as a noun phrase, where "erroneous" modifies "number". Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically correct. It typically identifies a specific numerical value that is inaccurate or mistaken.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

67%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an erroneous number" is a grammatically correct phrase used to denote an inaccurate numerical value. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While relatively rare in occurrence, the phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it appears more frequently in scientific and news-related content. When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the context and impact of the numerical error. Alternatives like "an incorrect figure" or "a mistaken value" can be used depending on the specific nuances you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an incorrect figure

Replaces "number" with "figure", implying a more formal or statistical context.

an inaccurate count

Substitutes "erroneous" with "inaccurate" and "number" with "count", highlighting the lack of precision.

a mistaken value

Replaces "erroneous" with "mistaken" and "number" with "value", focusing on the incorrect assessment.

a false statistic

Highlights that the erroneous number is specifically a statistical data point.

a flawed calculation

Shifts the focus to the process that led to the incorrect number, rather than the number itself.

an invalid quantity

Emphasizes the lack of validity of the number.

a misrepresented digit

Indicates the number was presented incorrectly.

a deceptive total

Suggests the erroneous number is misleading.

a garbled sum

Implies the number is confused or distorted.

a bungled tally

Indicates the number was calculated incompetently.

FAQs

What does "an erroneous number" mean?

The phrase "an erroneous number" refers to a numerical value that is incorrect or contains mistakes. It suggests that the number does not accurately represent what it is intended to measure or calculate.

How can I use "an erroneous number" in a sentence?

You can use "an erroneous number" to describe a mistake in data, calculations, or reports. For example: "The audit revealed "an erroneous number" in the financial statement."

What are some alternatives to saying "an erroneous number"?

Alternatives include "an incorrect figure", "an inaccurate count", or "a mistaken value". The choice depends on the specific context and the aspect of the error you want to emphasize.

Is it better to say "an erroneous number" or "an incorrect number"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but "an erroneous number" might suggest a more formal or technical context, while "an incorrect number" is more general. The best choice depends on the tone and audience.