if an error occurs

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "if an error occurs" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to specify a condition related to the occurrence of an error, often in instructions or technical documentation. Example: "Please ensure to save your work frequently, if an error occurs, you may lose unsaved changes."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

If an error occurs, they return -1 (MUS_ERROR).

Stanford University

If an error occurs before any new keytabs were downloaded, wallet-rekey will abort.

Stanford University

"If an error occurs, it is crucial that rating committees consider possible rating changes and disclosures in an appropriate manner".

The New York Times

If an error occurs, the stream enters a failure state, which can be detected by calling the fail member function.

Stanford University

If an error occurs on the third of three annual tests, a woman may be falsely reassured that she need not get another test for three years.

The New York Times - Health

In all cases if an error occurs, -1 (MUS_ERROR) is returned, and some sort of error message is printed; to customize error handling, use mus_set_error_handler and mus_set_print_handler.

Stanford University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

If such an error occurs, participants will be analysed according to their trial allocation on an intention-to-treat basis.

BMJ Open

For the second model of Figure 7, an error occurs if both paths are in error, and we thus have the end-to-end probability: P_{2} = bar{p}_{p}(bar{gamma}_{1}) left[bar{p}_{p}(bar{gamma}_{2}) + left 1-bar{p}_{p}(bar{gamma}_{2})right)bar{p}_{p}(bar{gamma}_{3})right] (30).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

If an error occurred in the auspices, the augurs could, of their own accord or at the request of the Senate, inform themselves of the circumstances and advise upon it.

Britannica

If an error occurred during writing process and writing process was partially done, ALFAT sends NACK frame with one Byte ERROR CODE with 32bits indicating how many bytes it was able to write from the file.

Cornell University

Then, video feedback was implemented and consisted of (a) interrupting a video presentation if an error occurred, (b) providing positive feedback, and (c) prompting the trainer to avoid errors or omissions.

Research in Developmental Disabilities

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "if an error occurs", ensure the subsequent action or consequence is clearly stated to provide actionable guidance.

Common error

Avoid using "if an error occurs" without specifying what action should be taken. For example, instead of just saying "if an error occurs", specify "if an error occurs, restart the program."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if an error occurs" functions as a conditional conjunction, introducing a subordinate clause that specifies a condition under which the main clause becomes relevant. Ludwig AI indicates the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

33%

Academia

31%

News & Media

18%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "if an error occurs" serves as a conditional conjunction introducing a scenario where a particular action or result is triggered by a potential error. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically correct and applicable across numerous contexts, ranging from scientific and academic writing to news media and general instructions. While common, it's most impactful when paired with a specific and actionable follow-up statement. Alternatives include the slightly more formal "in the event of an error" or the shorter "in case of error". Always clarify the response to the error to ensure clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in case of error

Shorter and more direct, suitable for quick instructions.

in the event of an error

Formal alternative, emphasizes a possible future error.

if there is an error

Simple restatement, slightly more verbose.

should an error arise

More formal and less common, emphasizing hypothetical error occurrence.

if a mistake happens

Replaces "error" with a more general term, making it less technical.

when an error arises

Focuses on the time of the error, rather than just the condition.

upon error occurrence

More formal, emphasizes the moment the error happens.

when errors occur

Focuses on multiple potential error events.

given an error state

More technical, appropriate for software contexts.

on the condition that an error presents itself

A formal and extended way of expressing the same condition.

FAQs

What is a simple alternative to "if an error occurs"?

A simpler alternative is "in case of error", which is more direct and suitable for general contexts.

How can I use "if an error occurs" in a sentence?

You can use "if an error occurs" to introduce a contingency plan or a response to a potential problem. For example, "If an error occurs, the system will automatically log the incident."

What's the difference between "if an error occurs" and "when an error occurs"?

"If an error occurs" specifies a condition, while "when an error occurs" implies that the error is expected to happen at some point. The former is more hypothetical, the latter is more certain.

Is there a more formal way to say "if an error occurs"?

A more formal alternative is "should an error arise". This construction is less common but suitable for formal documents or technical specifications.