by a significant error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "by a significant error" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a mistake that has considerable impact or importance in a given context. Example: "The results of the experiment were skewed by a significant error in the data collection process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Marie Kallo, a sixth-grade English and social studies teacher at Intermediate School 234 in Brooklyn, said that even though she had received an above-average rating, she was troubled by a significant error in her report: It said she had taught 120 students in 2007-8 when she had actually taught more than 200.

The New York Times

We admit that this value is affected by a significant error.

Colloid and Polymer Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The forecasters had incorrectly predicted the size of changes in the gross national product, erring by more than 1 percentage point — a significant error — four times.

The New York Times

The results in Table 5 can be compared to the results in Table 6 showing a significant error reduction achieved by decreasing the window step because of the resolution increase.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

"That was a significant error".

The New Yorker

The Saturday Paper accepted Triggs' retraction in an editorial stating she had made a "significant error".

The Guardian

Online matches to large databases also have a significant error rate.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Her decision on T.P.P. is a fairly significant error.

The New Yorker

Furthermore, cold detection thresholds are characterized by significant error variability that may also explain poor correlation with the mTCNS.

Diabetic Medicine

Table 5 (lower panel) has a more significant error.

BMC Genomics

As reported in the literature before [ 67], a speed-accuracy trade-off as indicated by a significant correlation between errors and median RT was not observed in controls.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "by a significant error", ensure the context clearly indicates what was affected by the error. For example, specify the data, calculation, or process that contained the error.

Common error

Avoid using "by a significant error" without clarifying the specific nature and impact of the error. Vague descriptions can undermine the credibility of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "by a significant error" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun, indicating causation or influence. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

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, the phrase "by a significant error" is a grammatically correct and usable prepositional phrase indicating that a result or situation has been influenced by a mistake of considerable magnitude. Ludwig AI suggests its use in written English is appropriate. While relatively rare, it is found in both news and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, be specific about the nature and impact of the error to maintain clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to a major mistake

Replaces "significant error" with "major mistake" and "by" with "due to".

because of a substantial error

Substitutes "significant" with "substantial" and "by" with "because of".

resulting from a considerable mistake

Changes the structure to emphasize the result of the mistake, using "considerable" instead of "significant".

caused by a notable inaccuracy

Replaces "error" with "inaccuracy" and "significant" with "notable".

attributable to a critical fault

Uses more formal language, replacing "error" with "fault" and "significant" with "critical".

stemming from a serious blunder

Emphasizes the origin of the problem, substituting "error" with "blunder" and "significant" with "serious".

as a consequence of a major oversight

Focuses on the oversight that led to the error, using "major" instead of "significant".

owing to a substantial lapse

Replaces "error" with "lapse" and "significant" with "substantial".

through a consequential defect

Uses more technical language, replacing "error" with "defect" and "significant" with "consequential".

on account of a grievous slip

Emphasizes the severity of the error, substituting "error" with "slip" and "significant" with "grievous".

FAQs

What does "by a significant error" mean?

The phrase "by a significant error" indicates that something was affected or influenced by a mistake of considerable importance or impact. The magnitude of influence is notable.

What can I say instead of "by a significant error"?

You can use alternatives like "due to a major mistake", "because of a substantial error", or "resulting from a considerable mistake" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "due to a significant error" or "by a significant error"?

Both "due to a significant error" and "by a significant error" are grammatically acceptable and can be used to indicate causation, but "due to a significant error" may be preferred in some contexts where the causation needs to be emphasized. "By a significant error" often implies that something has been influenced or skewed by the mistake.

How can I use "by a significant error" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe how a result, calculation, or decision was influenced. For example: "The final calculation was skewed by a significant error in the initial data input."