consequential error

USAGE SUMMARY

"consequential error" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a mistake that causes significant issues or has a large impact. For example: "The consequential error in the software caused the system to crash."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The latter is probably our most consequential error since the Iraq War and may well be felt even longer.

The Washington Post

Now, however, Obama must own up to the fact that the changes he ordered failed to prevent a tragic, consequential error.

The New Yorker

But the article also contained a huge, consequential error: It wrongly claimed there was a link between politics and the lethal 2011 mass shooting that wounded Congresswoman Gabby Giffords the shooter, Jared Lee Loughner, was deeply disturbed but not particularly political.

Vice

Under growing public pressure to explain the incident, NBC News President Steve Capus provided Reuters with the fullest explanation to date of how the edited call made it on air and what the network is doing to prevent such a consequential error from happening again.

HuffPost

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Furthermore, it increases the risk of consequential errors.

Procedia Manufacturing

The resulting likely and consequential errors were prioritized for intervention.

Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology

The oft-noted 84% to 55% decrease in errors when using CPOE [ 4, 5] drops to a statistically insignificant 17% when examining consequential errors.

Critical Care

When Berger and Kichak [ 3] analyzed studies by Bates et al. [ 4, 5] and focused on consequential errors, they found "the reality is that no significant decrease in patient morbidity and mortality occurred as a result of the institution of CPOE" [ 3].

Critical Care

In this comment we draw attention to an elementary but consequential mathematical error in this recently published article.

Journal of Hydrology

It wasn't until widely respected economists Carmen Reinhart and Kenneth Rogoff shared the Excel files behind their influential paper on the relationship between government debt and economic growth, that a very basic and consequential spreadsheet error was discovered.

TechCrunch

I recognize the sacrifice and [disappointment] that cancelling will create, but it's a very consequential unforced error and could plague us in stories for months".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "consequential error" to underscore the severity and wide-ranging impact of a mistake, especially in formal writing and professional contexts. Be specific about the error's effects to maximize the phrase's impact.

Common error

Avoid using "consequential error" for trivial mistakes. This phrase should be reserved for errors that genuinely lead to significant or far-reaching negative outcomes. Overusing the term dilutes its impact and can make your writing seem hyperbolic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "consequential error" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "consequential" modifies the noun "error". This construction emphasizes the significance or importance of the error, highlighting that it leads to notable outcomes. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "consequential error" is a valid and useful phrase to describe a mistake that has significant and far-reaching effects. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. While not overly common, it's used across various contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and academic writing, to emphasize the impact of a mistake. When using this phrase, ensure the error genuinely warrants such a description to avoid exaggerating minor issues. Related phrases such as "significant mistake" or "serious blunder" can offer similar emphasis with slightly different connotations. The phrase’s appropriateness stems from its ability to signal that an error is not just a simple oversight but something with substantial consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significant mistake

Replaces "error" with "mistake" and "consequential" with "significant", emphasizing the importance of the error.

impactful error

Replaces "consequential" with "impactful" focusing on the resulting impact.

serious blunder

Replaces both words for impact, suggesting a grave and consequential mistake.

grave misjudgment

Focuses on the decision-making aspect, indicating a severe error in judgment with significant consequences.

far-reaching mistake

Stresses the extent of the impact of the mistake.

pivotal error

Emphasizes the turning-point nature of the error.

major oversight

Highlights the aspect of neglecting something important, leading to significant repercussions.

critical failure

Emphasizes the failure aspect, implying a fault that leads to severe consequences.

substantial error

Highlights the considerable size or degree of the error.

important mistake

Uses a simpler adjective to highlight the significance of the error.

FAQs

How does the phrase "consequential error" differ from a simple mistake?

A "consequential error" implies that the mistake had significant, far-reaching effects or serious repercussions, unlike a simple mistake that might be minor or easily corrected.

When is it appropriate to use the term "consequential error" in writing?

Use "consequential error" when you want to emphasize that a mistake has had or will have a substantial impact, influencing outcomes or creating significant problems.

What are some alternative phrases I can use instead of "consequential error"?

You can use alternatives like "significant mistake", "serious blunder", or "grave misjudgment" depending on the specific context.

Can "consequential error" be used in both formal and informal contexts?

While grammatically correct in both, "consequential error" is more suited for formal writing or professional contexts where the emphasis is on the serious impact of a mistake. In informal settings, simpler terms may be more appropriate.