Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
have been error
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "have been error" is not correct in English.
It seems to be an attempt to express that an error has occurred over a period of time, but it is not a standard construction. Example: "There have been errors in the report that need to be addressed."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Wiki
Science
Alternative expressions(3)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
3 human-written examples
Initial inquiries indicate some of these deaths appear to have been error or oversight: senior military officials say that the British jet shot down by an American missile had failed to re-enter Kuwait from Iraq through one of the air corridors cleared for allied warplanes.
News & Media
Galland did not pretend to have been error free.
Wiki
There may also have been error in the measurement of medication use, which was taken from a self-report questionnaire.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
56 human-written examples
Serena leads their series, 8-7, but many of their encounters have been error-filled, awkward affairs in which neither the crowd nor the combatants were able to give full throat to their emotions.
News & Media
Along the way, there have been errors.
News & Media
Chilli Dave admits there have been errors of judgment.
News & Media
He said there could have been errors in their bills, or they may have misunderstood their coverage plans.
News & Media
There have been errors of judgment and waste in the public sector as well as private, and transparency and accountability are indispensable for both economic and political reasons.
News & Media
There have been errors, missteps and learnings along the way.
News & Media
When his second term ended, Grant wrote to Congress that "Failures have been errors of judgment, not of intent".
Wiki
As a result of the two preprocessing steps clones are ordered, read overlaps have been computed, and reads have been error-corrected so that most overlaps are entirely error-free.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When indicating errors, use grammatically correct phrases such as "there have been errors" or "errors have occurred" to ensure clarity and accuracy.
Common error
Do not use the phrase "have been error" as it is not grammatically correct. Instead, opt for standard constructions like "there have been errors".
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "have been error" functions as an incomplete predicate. Ludwig AI suggests that it's an ungrammatical attempt to describe errors occurring over time, which necessitates restructuring for correctness.
Frequent in
Science
33%
News & Media
33%
Wiki
33%
Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Encyclopedias
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "have been error" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI analysis shows limited and often flawed usage. To express the existence of errors, use correct alternatives like "there have been errors" or "errors have occurred". Ensure your phrasing is grammatically sound to maintain clarity and credibility in your writing. Using standard English constructions is always preferable, especially in formal and professional contexts.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
there have been errors
Changes the structure to a more standard English construction using "there" as an expletive subject.
errors have occurred
Rephrases to use the verb "occurred", creating a more direct and grammatically correct sentence.
mistakes have been made
Substitutes "error" with "mistakes" and uses a passive voice construction.
there were errors
Shifts to the past tense and uses "were" to indicate the existence of errors.
errors existed
Uses "existed" to express the presence of errors in the past.
faults have been present
Replaces "error" with "faults", indicating flaws or imperfections.
inaccuracies were found
Highlights the discovery of inaccuracies instead of simply stating errors.
discrepancies have emerged
Emphasizes the emergence or surfacing of discrepancies or inconsistencies.
lapses have taken place
Focuses on lapses or oversights that have occurred.
blunders have transpired
Highlights significant or clumsy errors that have come to light.
FAQs
How can I correctly express that errors have occurred?
Instead of "have been error", use phrases like "there have been errors", "errors have occurred", or "mistakes have been made".
What is a more formal way to say there was an error?
For a more formal tone, consider phrases like "an error occurred", "a mistake was made", or "there was an inaccuracy".
Is it correct to say "have been error" in any context?
No, the phrase "have been error" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It is better to use alternative phrasing such as "there have been errors".
What's the difference between "have been error" and "there has been an error"?
"Have been error" is grammatically incorrect. "There has been an error" is a correct way to express that a single error has occurred. The plural form, "there have been errors", is used when multiple errors are present.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
89%
Authority and reliability
1.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested