cause an error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'cause an error' is not grammatically correct.
The correct phrase is 'cause an error'. You can use this phrase when you wish to indicate that something is the cause of a mistake or misstep. For example, "The incorrect wiring was the cause of the error in the machine."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Academia

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

If the list has a cycle, this may cause an error or infinite loop.

University of California, Berkeley

If arg is not a well-formed list, this will cause an error.

University of California, Berkeley

If an optical device were designed to receive two inputs and a third input reflected back in, that would cause an error.

MIT Technology Review

Note: entering your Employee ID number multiple times will not cause an error -- you will simply get multiple account claim emails.

University of California, Berkeley

Is there a simple explanation of why a prerelease would cause an error but a release does not in your situation?

Yale University

If in doubt, adding a '%' to the beginning of a search field that already automatically appends one will not cause an error, or slow down the query.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

If the LCD buffer has not completely cleared, then this will cause a error that results in gibberish characters being displayed on screen.

Cornell University

It will cause a error reading - "Minecraft is not recognized as an internal or external operable program or batch file".

WikiHow

Rundll32 will now close," and "MSMSGSIN has caused an error in <unknown".

The New York Times - Tech

We allowed the player to enter his own bankroll and bet amount, without causing an error in our system.

Cornell University

Despite claims that Windows Me has simplified the error messages, it still spit out such gems as "Rundll32 has caused an error in <unknown.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the reason something went wrong, use the grammatically correct phrase "cause an error" to ensure clarity and avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "cause a error". The indefinite article 'a' should only precede words that begin with a consonant sound. Use "cause an error" instead, where 'an' precedes the vowel sound of 'error'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause an error" functions as a verb phrase that describes an action leading to a negative outcome. The noun "error" serves as the object, specifying the nature of the negative result. Ludwig identifies the phrase as grammatically incorrect, recommending using "cause an error" instead.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

35%

Academia

30%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "cause an error" appears in various contexts, it is considered grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "cause an error". Ludwig's analysis shows this phrase is used to describe the reason something went wrong, emphasizing a cause-and-effect relationship. Usage is common in scientific, academic, and technical fields. Always ensure you use "cause an error" to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

trigger an error

Replaces "cause" with "trigger", emphasizing the initiation of the error.

induce an error

Uses "induce" instead of "cause", suggesting a more formal or scientific context.

generate an error

Emphasizes the creation or production of an error.

result in an error

Focuses on the outcome of the action leading to the error.

lead to an error

Similar to "result in", but with a slightly different nuance of direction.

create an error

Highlights the creation of the error, similar to "generate".

provoke an error

Suggests a strong reaction or instigation of the error.

give rise to an error

A more formal way of saying "cause an error", implying a chain of events.

be responsible for an error

Shifts the focus to accountability for the error occurring.

be the reason for an error

Highlights the causal relationship and provides a clear explanation

FAQs

How do I correctly use "cause an error" in a sentence?

Use "cause an error" to describe something that leads to a mistake or malfunction. For example, "The incorrect input data could "result in an error" during processing".

Is it grammatically correct to say "cause a error"?

No, it is not grammatically correct. The correct phrase is "cause an error". The article "an" is used before words that begin with a vowel sound.

What are some alternative ways to express the idea of "cause an error"?

You can use alternatives such as "trigger an error", "induce an error", or "lead to an error" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "cause an error" and "result in an error"?

"Cause an error" emphasizes the action that leads to the error, while ""result in an error"" focuses on the error as the outcome. For example, "The bug in the code can cause an error", and "The bug in the code can result in an error".