critical error

USAGE SUMMARY

"critical error" is an acceptable phrase in written English.
You can use it to refer to a mistake that has significant negative consequences. For example, "The pilot's critical error resulted in a fatal crash."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Sports

Chess

Technology

Politics

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"That's a critical error," Ryan said.

The New York Times - Sports

But 30... Ref7 was a critical error.

The New York Times

The operators made a critical error right at the start.

The New Yorker

Tol then made a basic and critical error.

The Guardian

"I made a critical error from the outset," he wrote.

The New York Times

White's critical error was 47 Kc1 instead of 47 Ka1.

The New York Times

"I don't believe there is one critical error," he said.

The New York Times

But Sony at that moment made a critical error.

The New York Times

However, the US statement contained a critical error.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Moreover, as seen in the same plot, the distance of the ancestor distribution suddenly increases at a critical error-rate, which indicates the existence of a error-threshold.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Then again, that's the story of Romo, who made the critical error at the critical moment yet again.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "critical error", ensure the context clearly indicates the significant negative consequences resulting from the mistake. Providing specific details about the error and its impact enhances clarity and understanding.

Common error

Avoid labeling minor mistakes as a "critical error". Reserve this phrase for situations where the error genuinely leads to substantial damage, failure, or serious negative outcomes. Using it too loosely dilutes its impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "critical error" functions as a noun phrase, where "critical" modifies the noun "error". It describes a specific type of error characterized by its significant negative impact. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is acceptable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

14%

Science

7%

Less common in

Sports

12%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "critical error" denotes a mistake with serious, far-reaching consequences. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's perfectly acceptable in written English and is commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, academia, and sports. When employing this phrase, it's important to ensure the error genuinely warrants such a strong descriptor and that its impact is clearly articulated. Alternatives like ""fatal mistake"" or ""major blunder"" can be used to fine-tune the message depending on the specific context. Using precision and accuracy when writing descriptions is important to do as the potential for a "critical error" is very high.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fatal mistake

Emphasizes that the error had deadly or disastrous consequences.

grave mistake

Highlights the seriousness and potential repercussions of the error.

major blunder

Focuses on the conspicuousness and clumsiness of the error.

serious fault

Underscores the severity of the defect or failing.

significant oversight

Highlights the failure to notice or consider something important.

costly mistake

Focuses on the high price or negative consequences of the error.

egregious error

Emphasizes that the error is outstandingly bad or shocking.

catastrophic failure

Highlights the disastrous results of the failure.

severe lapse

Focuses on a temporary failure of judgment or concentration with serious implications.

damaging mistake

Emphasizes the harm caused by the mistake.

FAQs

How to use "critical error" in a sentence?

You can use "critical error" to describe a mistake that has significant negative consequences. For example, "The pilot's "critical error" during landing caused the plane to crash".

What are some alternatives to "critical error"?

Alternatives include "fatal mistake", "grave mistake", or "major blunder". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "critical error" formal or informal?

"Critical error" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the communication.

What makes an error "critical"?

An error is "critical" when it leads to significant negative consequences, such as failure, damage, or serious problems. The severity of the impact determines whether an error is considered critical.