an error happened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an error happened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a mistake or issue has occurred, often in technical or formal contexts. Example: "During the software update, an error happened that caused the system to crash."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"We are sorry that an error happened.

The New York Times

Then NASA-hired medical experts will analyze how an error happened and seek protections to prevent it from happening again.

The New York Times

(y 1) m = r and (y 2) m ≠ r: y 1 is output and M 2 enters the recovery process; (y 1) m ≠ r and (y 2) m = r: y 2 is output and M 1 enters the recovery process; (y 1) m = r and (y 2) m = r: an error happened, but the checking module cannot identify it, so y 1 or y 2 is chosen randomly as the output.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Four cases may be met here: (a) (y 1) m = r and (y 2) m ≠ r: y 1 is output and M 2 enters the recovery process;   (b) (y 1) m ≠ r and (y 2) m = r: y 2 is output and M 1 enters the recovery process;   (c) (y 1) m = r and (y 2) m = r: an error happened, but the checking module cannot identify it, so y 1 or y 2 is chosen randomly as the output.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It's hard to go on 12-play drives anymore without an error happening.

The New York Times

Therefore, an error happens only if, for all.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

If an error happens, the flow's queue delay increases one interval.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Furthermore, virtual machines are able to be rolled back to their previous states if an error happens.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

shareholders might have appreciated a fuller explanation of how an elementary error happened in the first place.

The Guardian - Business

For instance, garbage collection [28] will become much more important and produce greater gains when free memory is unavailable, and fault tolerance should be applied immediately if a critical error happened.

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

"Obviously an error occurred, and the error happened on the part of the Sheriff's Department," she said.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing technical issues, "an error happened" is suitable, but consider the audience. For less technical audiences, use simpler terms like "a problem occurred".

Common error

While acceptable, "an error happened" can sound less formal than "an error occurred" in certain contexts. Opt for the latter in formal reports or official communications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an error happened" functions as a statement indicating that a mistake or problem has occurred. It is used to report an event where something went wrong, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

43%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an error happened" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase to indicate that a mistake or problem has occurred. According to Ludwig, while acceptable in many contexts, it may be perceived as less formal than alternatives like "an error occurred". It appears frequently in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. For more formal writing, considering alternative phrases such as "a mistake occurred" or "an error took place" can enhance the tone and professionalism. Ultimately, the best choice depends on the specific context and intended audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a mistake occurred

Replaces "error" with "mistake" and "happened" with "occurred" maintaining a formal tone.

an error took place

Substitutes "happened" with "took place", keeping a similar formal register.

there was an error

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the existence of an error.

a problem arose

Replaces "error" with "problem" and "happened" with "arose", indicating a less specific issue.

a fault developed

Replaces "error" with "fault" and "happened" with "developed", implying an issue that emerged over time.

an issue emerged

Substitutes "error" with "issue" and "happened" with "emerged", indicating the appearance of a problem.

something went wrong

Uses a more general expression to indicate that an error has occurred.

a glitch occurred

Replaces "error" with "glitch" and "happened" with "occurred", suggesting a minor or temporary malfunction.

there was a malfunction

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the existence of a malfunction.

a discrepancy arose

Replaces "error" with "discrepancy" and "happened" with "arose", suggesting an inconsistency or deviation from what is expected.

FAQs

What's a more formal alternative to "an error happened"?

A more formal alternative is "an error occurred", which is often preferred in official reports or technical documentation.

Is it correct to say "an error happens" instead of "an error happened"?

While "an error happened" refers to a past event, "an error happens" describes a general possibility or recurring event. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning.

How can I use "an error happened" in a sentence?

You can use it to report a specific instance where something went wrong, such as: "During the update, "an error happened" and the system crashed."

What's the difference between "an error happened" and "a mistake was made"?

"An error happened" typically refers to a system or technical fault, whereas "a mistake was made" implies human error or oversight. The choice depends on the source of the problem.