committed an error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "committed an error" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a mistake or fault that has been made, often in a formal or professional context. Example: "After reviewing the report, I realized that I had committed an error in the calculations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They committed an error of law * * *.

Cornell University

"I committed an error in judgment about what was right for me".

The New York Times

Sorry is hard to say! Strauss-Kahn didn't say it once despite having committed "an error".

The Guardian - Opinion

Raul Ibanez singled, Edgardo Alfonzo committed an error, and the Royals had a 4-1 advantage.

The New York Times - Sports

"We are not dealing with a weekend electrician who committed an error," Mr. Dearington said.

The New York Times

Happ has not committed an error in 123 appearances, including 20 in relief.

The New York Times - Sports

Rallies often dragged on from the baseline until someone committed an error, mostly Putintseva.

The New York Times - Magazine

In the rhyming task, stutterers showed a heightened ERN peak regardless of whether they actually committed an error.

Brain and Language

The team lost that game, 5-4, afthirdhird baseman Vinny Castilla committed an error in the ninth inning.

The Washington Post

Ward said he had committed an error in judgment but did not feel the findings amounted to a reprimand.

The New York Times - Sports

At bottom, petitioner's contention is that the Florida Supreme Court committed an error in interpreting state law.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For less formal communication like emails or internal memos, consider using simpler alternatives such as "made a mistake".

Common error

Avoid using "committed an error" in casual conversations or informal writing. It can sound overly formal and stilted. Instead, opt for more relaxed alternatives like "messed up" or "goofed up".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "committed an error" functions as a verb phrase, where "committed" is the verb and "an error" is the direct object. It describes the action of making a mistake. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through its analysis of numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "committed an error" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe the action of making a mistake. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is widely used in news, academic, and scientific contexts, indicating a relatively formal register. While perfectly correct, consider your audience and the context. For informal settings, simpler alternatives such as "made a mistake" may be more appropriate. Be aware of overuse in casual settings, opting for more relaxed language to avoid sounding overly formal. This phrase is suitable for any type of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made a mistake

This alternative is a more common and general way to express making an error.

erred

This alternative is a more formal and concise way to say someone made an error.

was mistaken

This alternative emphasizes the state of being incorrect rather than the action of making an error.

slipped up

This alternative is more informal, suggesting a small or unintentional mistake.

blundered

This alternative suggests a significant or clumsy mistake.

miscalculated

This alternative is specific to errors in calculation or judgment.

misjudged

This alternative is specific to errors in judgment.

acted in error

This alternative focuses on the action being incorrect rather than the person committing the error.

was at fault

This alternative emphasizes responsibility for the error.

goofed up

This alternative is a very informal way of saying someone committed an error.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "committed an error"?

You can use alternatives like "made a mistake", "erred", or "was mistaken" depending on the context.

Is "committed an error" formal or informal?

The phrase "committed an error" leans towards the formal side, suitable for official reports or formal writing. Simpler phrases such as "made a mistake" are more appropriate for informal settings.

How to use "committed an error" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "After reviewing the data, I realized I had committed an error in my calculations", or "The court determined that the judge had committed an error of law".

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

While both phrases mean the same thing, "committed an error" is more formal and often used in professional or legal contexts, whereas "made a mistake" is more commonly used in everyday conversation.