significant error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significant error" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an error that has severe consequences. For example, "The significant error in the data analysis caused the entire report to be invalid."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"That was a significant error".

The New Yorker

"Her decision on T.P.P. is a fairly significant error.

The New Yorker

Several federal studies in recent years have found significant error rates in the Social Security database.

The New York Times

Fingerprint and iris-recognition technology have significant error rates, too.

The Economist

Online matches to large databases also have a significant error rate.

The Guardian - Opinion

Subsequent editions have also corrected the original's one significant error: excluding the monumental All or Nothing.

The Guardian - Music

The Saturday Paper accepted Triggs' retraction in an editorial stating she had made a "significant error".

The Guardian

Kwan smiled when she made her only significant error, botching the second half of a combination.

The New York Times - Sports

He says that "no significant error has come to light" in Bjørn Lomborg's book The Sceptical Environmentalist.

The Guardian - Opinion

She unfortunately had a significant error but the rest of her routine was good enough to get her a bronze".

The Guardian - Sport

Giles Fraser makes one small but significant error in his piece on the Sykes-Picot agreement (Loose canon, 8 April).

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significant error", ensure the context clearly indicates the impact or consequences of the error. Provide specific details about what makes the error significant.

Common error

Avoid using "significant error" when the error is minor or inconsequential. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact when a truly important error occurs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant error" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "significant" modifies the noun "error". This highlights the importance or impact of the error being described. Ludwig's examples show it used across different fields.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant error" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that denotes a mistake with considerable consequences. Ludwig confirms the phrase's correctness and provides numerous examples from diverse sources, predominantly in science and news media. When writing, it is advisable to use the phrase when the impact of the error is demonstrably important, and avoid overusing it in trivial cases. Alternatives like ""major mistake"" or ""serious blunder"" can be used for variety, but the core meaning remains focused on the gravity of the error.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

major mistake

Replaces "error" with "mistake" and "significant" with "major", indicating a large impact.

serious blunder

Substitutes "error" with "blunder" and "significant" with "serious", suggesting a grave mistake.

critical fault

Replaces "error" with "fault" and "significant" with "critical", conveying a crucial mistake.

substantial inaccuracy

Replaces "error" with "inaccuracy" and "significant" with "substantial", highlighting a considerable lack of precision.

grave oversight

Substitutes "error" with "oversight" and "significant" with "grave", implying a severe failure to notice something.

notable lapse

Replaces "error" with "lapse" and "significant" with "notable", indicating a marked deviation from correctness.

consequential mistake

Replaces "significant" with "consequential", emphasizing the importance of the mistake's outcome.

considerable defect

Substitutes "error" with "defect" and "significant" with "considerable", pointing out a large flaw or imperfection.

severe miscalculation

Replaces "error" with "miscalculation" and "significant" with "severe", indicating a drastic incorrect calculation.

pronounced flaw

Substitutes "error" with "flaw" and "significant" with "pronounced", highlighting a noticeable imperfection.

FAQs

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

You can use "significant error" to describe a mistake that has important consequences. For example, "The "significant error" in the calculation led to a complete project failure."

What are some alternatives to "significant error"?

Alternatives include "major mistake", "serious blunder", or "critical fault". The best choice depends on the specific context and the degree of impact of the error.

Is it better to say "significant error" or "major error"?

Both "significant error" and "major error" are acceptable. "Significant error" emphasizes the consequences of the error, while "major error" highlights the size or extent of the mistake.

What's the difference between "significant error" and "minor error"?

"Significant error" refers to a mistake with substantial consequences, whereas "minor error" indicates a small, relatively unimportant mistake. The choice depends on the actual impact of the error.