rectify an error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "rectify an error" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to correct a mistake or inaccuracy in a document, report, or any form of communication. Example: "After reviewing the report, I realized I needed to rectify an error in the calculations."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

When challenged by colleagues, Wiswell would say that he had altered the entries for Lanturno to rectify an error made on his part.

The New Yorker

We rectify an error in the proof of the Gaussian estimates for the heat kernel associated to certain weighted elliptic equations.

Journal of Functional Analysis

It started with the gentlemen at the hotel reception who were trying to rectify an error with our booking.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Kleinedler said the dictionary had rectified an error.

The New York Times

a It rectifies an error in [22].b One can show that the number of solutions of (10) is indeed finite.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Casillas was caught horribly out of position for the Atlético goal and was too slow to rectify a howling error.

The Guardian - Sport

Sukanya Pillay, executive director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association (CCLA) told VICE News that Adam's case "underscores the urgency for the Canadian government to take immediate steps to investigate and rectify any errors".

Vice

We are going to verify all the other versions and rectify any errors.

EU Parlament

"We have been in regular contact with the families over the past year in an effort to rectify the error in a dignified, sensitive and respectful manner, whilst also being mindful to respect their privacy.

BBC

Liverpool had actually sent him the wrong pass in error and quickly attempted to rectify the error, on a day in which they celebrated Bill Shankly.

Independent

Sundman theorizes that Andrée could not face letting the press report that he did not know the prevailing wind direction, and had also miscalculated in ordering the balloon, and needed a new one to rectify his error.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "rectify an error", ensure the context clearly indicates what the error is and how it will be corrected. Be specific to maintain clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "rectify an error" in very casual conversations; simpler terms like "fix" or "correct" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rectify an error" serves as a verb phrase, indicating the action of correcting a mistake or inaccuracy. As shown in Ludwig, it is generally used in contexts where a specific error needs to be addressed and corrected.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "rectify an error" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of correcting a mistake. While Ludwig AI indicates it's usable, it's relatively infrequent, mainly appearing in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. For more casual situations, simpler alternatives like "correct a mistake" or "fix an error" are more fitting. Ensure clarity by specifying the error and the method of correction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

rectify the mistake

This alternative is very similar, simply replacing "error" with "mistake".

correct the error

This alternative is a slightly more direct phrasing.

correct a mistake

This alternative is a more direct and common way to express fixing something that is wrong.

fix the mistake

This alternative is more informal and uses "mistake" instead of "error".

fix an error

This alternative is simpler and more informal than the original phrase.

amend an error

This alternative suggests making a formal correction or improvement to something that is wrong.

resolve an error

This alternative focuses on finding a solution to an error or problem.

remedy an error

This alternative suggests providing a cure or solution to the error.

address an error

This alternative is a more general way of saying that you are dealing with an error.

iron out an error

This alternative is an idiomatic expression for resolving minor discrepancies.

FAQs

How to use "rectify an error" in a sentence?

You can use "rectify an error" to describe the process of correcting a mistake or inaccuracy. For example, "The team worked diligently to rectify an error in the financial report."

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

You can use alternatives like "correct a mistake", "fix an error", or "amend an error" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "rectify an error" or "rectify the error"?

"Rectify an error" is used when referring to a general instance of correcting a mistake, while "rectify the error" refers to a specific, identified error. Both are grammatically correct but have slightly different usages.

Is "rectify" a formal word?

Yes, "rectify" is considered a formal word. In informal contexts, it might be better to use simpler alternatives like "correct" or "fix".