severe error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "severe error" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or critical mistake, often in technical or formal contexts. Example: "The system encountered a severe error that halted all operations and required immediate attention from the IT team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Romney said: "I think he made a severe error in saying what he did about Mexican Americans and I feel it was unfortunate".

The Guardian

That perspective is supported by one of the interview subjects in "The Mafia Psyche," a man identified only as "Collaborator C". "It's a severe error," the man tells Lo Verso, laughing at the thought of a don in analysis.

The New York Times - Magazine

During the sentencing, which lasted more than an hour and a half, Mr. Haggerty's lawyers portrayed him as an honorable, well-respected man who had made a severe error.

The New York Times

And former Chairman Tom Wheeler made a severe error when, upon being asked what types of practices could be found to be unreasonable, replied "we don't really know".

TechCrunch

Therefore, initialization of the ZF-DFE with ZE-LE decisions leads to severe error propagation.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This is mainly due to excessive errors in the VLC bitstreams that cause severe error propagation.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

"And yet," said Thomas Mann of the Brookings Institution, "they seem like somewhere along the line they forgot what they learned, and they've made some severe errors in judgment".

The New York Times

The JIS estimate, however, suffer from ill-conditioning and consequently show severe errors.

Procedia Engineering

({Accuracy},!pm,!1)  ignores the Neutral class as it counts only severe errors (Leave vs. Remain).

Computational Social Networks

Last, the Furnace generates severe errors especially in regions of pathological motion (see box B).

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

The severe errors associated with the computation of derivatives of functions approximated by Chebyshev polynomials are investigated.

Journal of Computational Physics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of a mistake, use "severe error" to emphasize the potential for significant negative consequences. For instance, in technical documentation or formal reports, it's more impactful than a simple "mistake".

Common error

Avoid using "severe error" when a simple "error" or "mistake" is sufficient. Overusing "severe" can diminish its impact when describing genuinely critical situations. Reserve it for instances where the error truly has significant consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "severe error" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "severe" modifies the noun "error". It acts as a subject, object, or complement within a sentence. As supported by Ludwig, the phrase indicates a significant mistake.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

52%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "severe error" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a significant mistake with potentially serious consequences. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across various contexts, particularly in science, news, and formal settings. While synonyms like "critical mistake" and "major blunder" offer alternatives, "severe error" effectively underscores the gravity of the situation. When using this phrase, ensure the described error truly warrants the "severe" descriptor to maintain its impact and avoid overstatement. By understanding its contexts and implications, writers can effectively use "severe error" to communicate the magnitude of a mistake.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

critical mistake

Emphasizes the importance and potential consequences of the mistake.

major blunder

Implies a significant mistake, often due to carelessness or poor judgment.

serious fault

Highlights the gravity and potential impact of the error.

grave oversight

Focuses on the neglect or failure to notice something important, leading to a severe consequence.

significant lapse

Indicates a temporary failure of concentration, judgment, or memory, resulting in a substantial error.

dire miscalculation

Stresses the negative consequences arising from an incorrect calculation or estimate.

harsh mistake

Highlights the negative or unpleasant nature of the mistake.

substantial failing

Underscores the magnitude of the failure or deficiency.

extreme inaccuracy

Emphasizes the degree to which something is not correct or precise.

gross negligence

Points to a severe departure from reasonable care or competence.

FAQs

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

You can use "severe error" to describe a critical mistake that has significant consequences. For instance, "The system failure was caused by a "severe error" in the code".

What are some alternatives to saying "severe error"?

Alternatives include phrases like "critical mistake", "major blunder", or "serious fault", depending on the specific context and nuance you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "severe error" or "serious error"?

"Severe error" emphasizes the significant and potentially damaging consequences of the mistake, while "serious error" highlights the gravity of the error itself. The choice depends on whether you want to stress the impact or the nature of the error.

What kind of errors are classified as "severe"?

A "severe error" typically involves mistakes that lead to significant disruptions, data loss, security breaches, or other critical problems. It is not a minor or easily correctable issue.