massive error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "massive error" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant mistake or blunder in various contexts, such as in reports, discussions, or critiques. Example: "The team discovered a massive error in the financial report that could have serious implications for the company's budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

There was a backlash of critical opinion, but the suggestion that this tale was a massive error of taste never gained favour.

The Guardian - Film

"It was a massive error of judgment and it does so much damage," said Julie Siddiqui, vice-president of the Islamic Society of Britain.

The Guardian

The Liberal Democrat health spokesman, Norman Lamb, said: "It is a massive error of judgement to have this link with Nestlé, given her [Ms Cooper's] position.

Independent

Several US diplomats later saw this as a massive error that doomed from the start American and British intervention in Afghanistan.

Independent

Firstly their own incompetence; it seems they are incapable of getting anything right, and overlooking the fact that being next door to each other and sharing the diary room the houses may not be soundproof was a massive error.

The Guardian

Sir Clive Woodward says his former coaching assistant Brian Ashton made a "massive error" in dropping Danny Cipriani after he was pictured leaving a London nightclub in the early hours of Thursday morning having dropped off match tickets for a friend.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

I made some massive errors in judgement.

The Guardian - Music

Of all the massive errors of judgment I've made, that was probably my biggest.

The Guardian

The forecast model "knows" that massive errors sometimes occur in the polling, and that these errors do not always abide by the prevailing news media narrative about the race.

The New York Times

We made three massive errors.

BBC

She added: "We made some massive errors off the start line, infringed somebody so had to do turns and then didn't do the right amount of turns so had to do another penalty.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "massive error" when you want to emphasize the significant impact or scale of a mistake. It conveys a stronger sense of severity than simply saying "error".

Common error

Avoid using "massive error" for minor mistakes. Reserving it for truly significant blunders maintains its impact and credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "massive error" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "massive" intensifies the noun "error". According to Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It's used to describe a significant mistake or blunder.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

22%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "massive error" is used to describe a significant mistake or blunder. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, especially in News & Media and Scientific publications. When using "massive error", it's important to reserve it for truly significant mistakes to maintain its impact. Alternatives include "major mistake" or "huge blunder". The phrase is a powerful way to convey the severity and potential consequences of a mistake.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major mistake

Replaces "error" with "mistake" while retaining the emphasis on significance with "major".

huge blunder

Substitutes "error" with "blunder" and "massive" with "huge", implying a large and careless mistake.

critical fault

Uses "fault" instead of "error" and "critical" instead of "massive", highlighting the severity of the error.

significant oversight

Replaces "error" with "oversight" and "massive" with "significant", suggesting an important detail was missed.

serious lapse

Uses "lapse" instead of "error" and "serious" instead of "massive", emphasizing the gravity of the mistake.

grave miscalculation

Substitutes "error" with "miscalculation" and "massive" with "grave", indicating a severe mistake in judgment.

colossal failure

Replaces "error" with "failure" and "massive" with "colossal", emphasizing the magnitude of the negative outcome.

egregious mistake

Uses "egregious" to emphasize that the mistake is outstandingly bad or shocking.

terrible error

Replaces "massive" with "terrible" to describe the very bad nature of the error.

substantial inaccuracy

Substitutes "error" with "inaccuracy" and "massive" with "substantial", suggesting a significant lack of precision or correctness.

FAQs

What does "massive error" mean?

A "massive error" refers to a very large, significant, or impactful mistake. The adjective "massive" amplifies the scale and importance of the "error".

How can I use "massive error" in a sentence?

You can use "massive error" to describe situations where a mistake has substantial consequences. For example: "The accounting department discovered a "massive error" in the company's financial statements."

What are some alternatives to "massive error"?

You can use alternatives like "major mistake", "huge blunder", or "significant oversight" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "massive error", or is it grammatically correct?

It's grammatically correct to say "massive error". The word "massive" serves to emphasize the large scale or impact of the "error", and isn't redundant if that emphasis is intended.