fall into the error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "fall into the error" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a mistake or misconception that someone has made, often unintentionally. Example: "Many people fall into the error of assuming that correlation implies causation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

But we must not fall into the error of the committee who recently elected "the prettiest schoolteacher in the U. S". & published her name & photograph.

The New Yorker

Don Quixote calls for Sancho Panza, and asks his forgiveness for "making you fall into the error into which I fell, thinking that there were and are knights errant in the world".

The New Yorker

But then he says that to criticise our transcendent purpose "is to fall into the error of atheism, which denies the validity of religion on similar grounds" – which is a good comparison.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Berlusconi has put the Democratic Party in crisis, putting them in a position where they could fall into the error of pulling the plug on the government," said one commentator, Mario Sechi.

The New York Times

"The haste in publishing the names of suspects in the attacks has made the media fall into the error of involving innocent people, especially Saudis," Prince Mit'eb bin Abdullah, the deputy commander of the Saudi National Guard, complained to reporters in Riyadh.

The New York Times

If we look back over the past 20 years, it is pretty clear that, prior to 2007, electricity prices increased pretty much in line with overall inflation: But this is a case where one can easily fall into the error of thinking that correlation equals causation – and certainly Hockey and Tony Abbott have been very good at persuading people to commit that error.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

It is important that emerging powers not fall into the errors of the past, creating new forms of paternalism or neo-colonialism.

Huffington Post

"I nearly fell into the error of supposing that you were a musician.

Stanford University

The title character of "Dorian Gray," accordingly, is praised for never falling "into the error of arresting his intellectual development by any formal acceptance of creed or system".

The New York Times

In believing its own propaganda, America fell into the error of seeing the Middle East through the distorting prism of their cold-war confrontation.

The Economist

However, in his very zeal to communicate the nuances of the underlying Hebrew, Alter falls into the error of Vladimir Nabokov's translation of "Eugene Onegin": in the effort to achieve absolute fidelity, he settles on rather odd English.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fall into the error", be specific about the error being made. Providing context clarifies the nature and consequences of the mistake.

Common error

Avoid using "fall into the error" without specifying what the error is. Saying someone "fell into the error" without context leaves the reader wondering what the mistake was.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fall into the error" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of making a mistake or succumbing to a misconception. It's often used to caution against making a common or predictable mistake. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "fall into the error" is a grammatically correct and usable expression indicating the act of making a mistake, particularly a common or predictable one. According to Ludwig, it is often used to warn against such mistakes in news, scientific, and academic contexts. While alternatives like "make a mistake" or "commit an error" exist, "fall into the error" carries a specific nuance of unintentionality or susceptibility to a common misconception. To use it effectively, specify the nature of the error to avoid ambiguity. While not exceedingly frequent, it is a useful phrase for formal and analytical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make a mistake

This is a more general term for committing an error, lacking the specific nuance of "error" as a potentially significant or systematic flaw.

commit an error

Similar to "make a mistake", but slightly more formal and emphasizes the act of committing the error.

err

A concise and formal way to express making a mistake, often used in academic or legal contexts.

be mistaken

Focuses on the state of being incorrect, rather than the action of making a mistake.

be in error

Similar to "be mistaken", emphasizing the state of being wrong in a formal manner.

miscalculate

Implies an error in calculation or judgment, often in a quantitative sense.

misjudge

Suggests an error in evaluating or assessing something, often involving subjective factors.

misapprehend

Implies a misunderstanding or failure to grasp the meaning of something.

be led astray

Suggests that someone was influenced to make a mistake or adopt a false belief.

go wrong

A more colloquial way of saying something has deviated from the correct path, possibly due to error.

FAQs

How can I use "fall into the error" in a sentence?

You can use "fall into the error" to indicate that someone has made a specific mistake or misconception. For example, "Many people "fall into the error" of assuming correlation implies causation."

What's a formal alternative to "fall into the error"?

A more formal alternative would be "commit an error" or "be in error", which are suitable for academic or professional writing.

Which is correct: "fall into the error" or "make the error"?

Both phrases are correct, but ""fall into the error"" suggests a more subtle or unintentional mistake, whereas "make the error" can imply a more active choice or deliberate action.

What can I say instead of "fall into the error"?

You can use alternatives like "make a mistake", "be mistaken", or "misjudge" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.