had an error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had an error" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something experienced a mistake or malfunction in the past. Example: "The system had an error during the update process, which caused a delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He hit two batters, walked three and had an error.

The New York Times - Sports

The poll had an error margin of five percentage points.

The New York Times

Those discharged with six or more medications had an error rate of 70percentt.

The New York Times - Health

The poll surveyed 600 likely voters and had an error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The New York Times

For example, Eileen M. Ott of Middle Village, N.Y., wrote: "I wish to inform you that on Monday you had an error in 6-Down.

The New York Times - Magazine

One worker -- or associate, in Target's language -- had an error rate of 0.2percentthethe goal is 3.5percentt or lower.

The New York Times

The poll gauged the opinions of 746 likely voters and had an error margin of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The New York Times

I pulled out my work phone — one of America's last BlackBerrys — but it had an error message unlike anything I'd seen before.

The New Yorker

So the Corrections Appended label at the top warned readers that they were about to read an article that had an error in it.

The New York Times

In fact, 24 of the 26 states with the death penalty where there have been fully completed appeals had an error rate of 52percentt or higher, the report said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

A1 Knoblauch had an error-free game in the Yanks' 3-1 loss to Chicago, a night after his frustration over three errors led him to leave Yankee Stadium before that game was over.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "had an error", ensure the context clearly indicates what experienced the error and, if possible, the nature or impact of the error. For instance, specify whether it was a system, a calculation, or a judgment that "had an error".

Common error

Avoid using "had an error" without providing sufficient context. Simply stating that something "had an error" can be vague. Instead, specify the type of error, its location, or its impact to provide clarity and prevent misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had an error" functions as a predicate in a sentence, indicating that a subject possessed or encountered a mistake or malfunction. It is commonly used to report issues in various systems, processes, or data. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had an error" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something experienced a mistake or malfunction. Ludwig AI indicates that this expression is correct and versatile across different contexts. Its widespread use in news, science, and even some formal business settings underscores its neutrality. While "had an error" is quite general, it's important to provide sufficient context about the nature and impact of the error to avoid vagueness. Alternatives like "contained a mistake" or "presented a fault" can offer subtle variations in meaning. Remember to specify the 'what', 'where', and 'why' of the error to ensure clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contained a mistake

Replaces "error" with "mistake", a slightly more informal synonym. It maintains the same meaning but with a different lexical choice.

presented a fault

Substitutes "error" with "fault", implying a flaw or defect in a system or process.

exhibited an inaccuracy

Replaces "error" with "inaccuracy", suggesting a deviation from a correct or precise value.

displayed a bug

Uses "bug" instead of "error", typically used in technical or software-related contexts.

demonstrated a glitch

Employs "glitch" instead of "error", implying a minor, temporary malfunction.

suffered a failure

Replaces "error" with "failure", indicating a more significant malfunction or breakdown.

included an oversight

Substitutes "error" with "oversight", suggesting that the error was due to negligence or inattention.

manifested an anomaly

Replaces "error" with "anomaly", often used in scientific or data analysis contexts to denote an unusual or unexpected result.

revealed a discrepancy

Employs "discrepancy" instead of "error", suggesting an inconsistency or difference between two or more things that should be the same.

showed an irregularity

Uses "irregularity" instead of "error", often used to describe something that deviates from what is standard or expected.

FAQs

How can I use "had an error" in a sentence?

You can use "had an error" to indicate that something experienced a mistake or malfunction in the past. For example, "The system "had an error" during the update process, which caused a delay."

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

You can use alternatives like "contained a mistake", "presented a fault", or "exhibited an inaccuracy" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "had an error" or "contained an error"?

Both ""had an error"" and "contained an error" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. "Contained an error" might suggest the error was inherent or discovered within something, while ""had an error"" is a more general statement about an error occurring.

What is the difference between "had an error" and "experienced an error"?

"Had an error" is a more general way of saying something went wrong, while "experienced an error" can suggest that the error had a more direct or noticeable effect. They are often interchangeable, but the latter emphasizes the impact of the error.