familiar errors

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "familiar errors" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to mistakes or issues that are commonly known or recognized in a particular context. Example: "In the report, we identified several familiar errors that have been recurring in previous analyses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

What started as a brave partnership starts to look like an over-ambitious dog-walker’s outing Cheryl Cole is returning home, defeated by those who couldn&rsquo t understand her One of the familiar errors in literary dialogue lies, in my view, in the use of the word "Dear" as a vocative.

Independent

As telemedicine alters the process of health care and introduces new technology, the extent to which it introduces new errors or allows for the occurrence of familiar errors needs to be examined.

The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Since children are familiar with errors that can be made while copying information, the concept of mutation as a copying error in the DNA can be introduced at this step.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

A very familiar homophone error cropped up in a piece about David Bowie on Tuesday: "Following news of his death, critics poured over the lyrics from his swansong album … Blackstar".

Independent

The Gaussian distribution, which has been widely applied to describe measurement error, provides a familiar description for errors of small magnitude.

BMC Evolutionary Biology

There are still some accidents involving familiar causes, like pilot errors.

The New York Times

A change of scene for the New York Knicks, but the same depressingly familiar script, strewn with errors, lethargy, and, as their coach, Derek Fisher, admitted, "a lack of effort from some players".

The Guardian - Sport

This means that the central limit theorem can be applied, giving the familiar 3% 'margin of error' attached to polls of 1,000 voters".

The Guardian

Sinfield's only miss actually set up one of Hull's most dangerous attacks, with Rankin sprinting 60 metres upfield only for the move to quickly peter out in all too familiar fashion for the error-prone home side.

The Guardian - Sport

The scheme was tested in Uefa's Europa League, and it took all of one month to throw up a familiar incident of human error, when an extra official got into a muddle during Fulham's game against Roma in October and ordered the incorrect sending off of Brede Hangeland, mere feet away from him (the red card should have gone to Hangeland's team-mate Stephen Kelly).

The Guardian - Sport

These studies conclude that sediba did in fact predate Homo erectus and, moreover, that parts of its anatomy are surprisingly similar to modern man.In this section An array of errors You look familiar Say what?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "familiar errors" to introduce a discussion about improving processes or training, indicating that these mistakes are known and can be prevented.

Common error

Avoid using "familiar errors" too broadly. Instead of saying 'There are many familiar errors in this field', identify specific examples to provide concrete understanding and facilitate targeted solutions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "familiar errors" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective 'familiar' modifies the noun 'errors'. It describes errors that are well-known or commonly encountered. As indicated by Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "familiar errors" is a grammatically correct and understandable way to describe mistakes that are commonly known or expected within a specific context. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is indeed usable in written English. While not as frequent as some alternative phrases like "common mistakes", "familiar errors" provides a specific nuance that suggests the errors are not only frequent but also recognized and possibly tolerated to some extent. The phrase is suitable for various registers, though technical contexts may benefit from more precise terminology. When using this phrase, it is important to be specific about the context of the errors to enhance clarity and facilitate targeted solutions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

common mistakes

Replaces 'familiar' with 'common', emphasizing the frequency of the errors.

well-known errors

Substitutes 'familiar' with 'well-known', highlighting the widespread awareness of the errors.

recurring errors

Focuses on the errors happening repeatedly.

frequent errors

Similar to 'common mistakes', stresses the high occurrence rate of the errors.

typical mistakes

Indicates errors that are representative or characteristic of a particular situation.

established errors

Suggests errors that have been recognized and documented.

recognized errors

Highlights that the errors have been identified and acknowledged.

customary mistakes

Similar to 'typical mistakes' in conveying errors that are generally expected.

habitual errors

Conveys errors committed out of habit or regularly.

predictable errors

Indicates that the errors can be anticipated due to prior knowledge or patterns.

FAQs

How can I use "familiar errors" in a sentence?

You can use "familiar errors" to describe mistakes that are commonly known or expected within a specific context. For example, "The report identified several "familiar errors" in the data entry process".

What are some alternatives to "familiar errors"?

Some alternatives to "familiar errors" include "common mistakes", "well-known errors", or "recurring errors". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "familiar errors" or "common errors"?

Both "familiar errors" and "common errors" are grammatically correct and understandable. "Familiar errors" might suggest that the errors are known and possibly accepted, while "common errors" simply means they occur frequently.

In what situations is it appropriate to use the term "familiar errors"?

It's appropriate to use "familiar errors" when you want to acknowledge that certain mistakes are commonly made or understood within a specific group, process, or industry. This can set the stage for discussing solutions or improvements.