it was our error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was our error" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to acknowledge a mistake or fault that was made by you or your team. Example: "We apologize for the confusion caused by the incorrect information; it was our error."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It was our error, and there are no excuses.

The Guardian - Film

"If anything," she said, "it was our error of judgment because we gave him permission to write it".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"It's our errors that we are making.

BBC

"We've got ourselves into winning positions and actually it's our errors that have put us where we are," said the coach.

BBC

But it wasn't the latest twists and turns in the story of post-Leveson press regulation in the UK that made me sigh; it was our latest error about who does what and to whom in Europe.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Every time we got ourselves into the game, it was our own unforced error which allowed Rotherham back in," he said.

BBC

Sir, I am grateful to Karnath and his colleague (Karnath and Smith, 2014) for a sophisticated commentary on our recent study (Mah et al., 2014); nonetheless, four aspects of their analysis may cause some readers to misapprehend our conclusions in a way that will tend to perpetuate the errors it was our original aim to correct.

Brain

It was our aim to quantify haplotype reconstruction error and to provide tools for it.

Plosone

It's our responsibility to clarify their errors and imporper claims.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

It is our policy to correct significant errors of fact or misleading statements".

Huffington Post

However, it has declined to say why your original claim was refused, except that "it was an error on our part and has not upheld the high customer service standards that we adhere to".

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When admitting "it was our error", follow up with specific steps being taken to rectify the situation and prevent recurrence. This shows accountability and commitment to improvement.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "it was our error" without providing context or a plan for resolution. A vague apology can come across as insincere and unhelpful. Be specific about what went wrong and how you're addressing it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was our error" functions as an acknowledgment of responsibility. As Ludwig AI points out, it's used to admit a mistake or fault. The phrase serves to identify the source of the error as belonging to the speaker or the group they represent.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "it was our error" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to acknowledge responsibility for a mistake. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, though also present in science and formal business settings. While it may not be the most frequent expression, it's a straightforward way to admit a fault. When using this phrase, it's best practice to follow up with specific details about the error and steps taken to correct it. Alternatives include "it was our mistake", "we made an error", or "the fault was ours", though the best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was our mistake

Uses "mistake" instead of "error", a minor difference in wording.

we made an error

Focuses on the action of making an error, shifting the emphasis slightly.

the error was ours

Rephrases to emphasize possession of the error.

our error

Shorter and more direct, simply stating the existence of an error attributed to the speaker/group.

we were in error

Implies a state of being mistaken, rather than the act of making a specific error.

we erred

A more formal and concise way of saying "we made an error."

we take responsibility for the error

Emphasizes acceptance of accountability for the mistake.

the fault was ours

Uses "fault" instead of "error", implying a greater degree of culpability.

we stand corrected

Implies someone else pointed out the error, and you are now acknowledging it.

we messed up

A more informal way of admitting a mistake.

FAQs

What does "it was our error" mean?

It signifies an acknowledgment of a mistake or fault committed by the speaker or a group they represent. It's a statement of responsibility.

What can I say instead of "it was our error"?

You can use alternatives like "it was our mistake", "we made an error", or "the error was ours" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "it was our error"?

It's appropriate in situations where you need to acknowledge a mistake and take responsibility, such as in customer service, project management, or any professional setting where errors occur.

Is "it was our error" formal or informal?

The phrase is relatively neutral and can be used in both professional and slightly less formal contexts. However, in very informal situations, phrases like "we messed up" might be more appropriate.