made an error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made an error" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when acknowledging a mistake or fault in a particular situation. Example: "I reviewed the report and realized I made an error in the calculations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Communication

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Jesús made an error).

The New York Times - Sports

He also made an error.

The New York Times - Sports

"He's made an error.

The Guardian - Sport

"She made an error".

The New York Times

Then we've made an error".

The New Yorker

They've never made an error.

The New Yorker

"I made an error on that one.

The New York Times - Sports

But Levin had made an error.

The New Yorker

And I just made an error.

The New York Times

"I accept I made an error.

The Guardian

I made an error of judgment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When acknowledging a mistake, use "made an error" to take responsibility directly. Be specific about the error to show understanding and a commitment to correction.

Common error

Avoid softening the responsibility by using passive constructions like "an error was made". Instead, directly state "I/we made an error" to convey accountability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made an error" functions as a verbal phrase used to acknowledge a mistake or fault. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is widely employed in various contexts to express accountability for inaccuracies.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Sports

27%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

8%

Academia

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "made an error" is a common and grammatically correct way to acknowledge a mistake. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used in various contexts, particularly in news, sports reporting, and general communication. While alternatives like "committed a mistake" or "made a mistake" exist, "made an error" offers a slightly more formal tone. When using this phrase, remember to be direct in taking responsibility and specific about the nature of the error to demonstrate understanding and a commitment to improvement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

committed a mistake

Emphasizes the action of making a mistake, similar to "made an error" but with a slightly stronger connotation.

made a mistake

A more common and informal way of saying "made an error".

erred

A concise and formal way to express that a mistake was made.

was mistaken

Focuses on the state of being incorrect, rather than the action of making the mistake.

miscalculated

Specifically refers to errors in calculation or planning.

misjudged

Implies a mistake in assessment or evaluation.

acted in error

Highlights that the action taken was based on a mistake.

dropped the ball

An idiomatic expression meaning to make a mistake or fail to fulfill a responsibility.

fouled up

An informal way to say that something was done incorrectly or badly.

blundered

Suggests a clumsy or foolish mistake.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives like "committed a mistake", "made a mistake", or "erred" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "made an error" or "made a mistake"?

Both "made an error" and "made a mistake" are correct. "Made an error" is slightly more formal. Choose the phrase that best fits the tone and context of your writing.

How do you use "made an error" in a sentence?

You can use "made an error" to acknowledge a mistake you or someone else has made. For example, "I reviewed the report and realized I "made an error" in the calculations."

What is the difference between "made an error" and "error occurred"?

"Made an error" implies someone caused the error, while "error occurred" is more general and doesn't necessarily assign blame. For example, "The system "error occurred"" suggests a system malfunction, while "I "made an error"" suggests a human mistake.