some sort of error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "some sort of error" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It means there is an unspecified error or mistake. You can use this phrase to describe any type of error or mistake, whether it is minor or significant. Example: "I'm sorry about the delay, there was some sort of error in the system that caused the order to not go through."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It is hard to believe that anyone who bought tickets at the four-mile price actually believed they were paying the real amount; presumably, the ticket-purchasers all knew, or at least guessed, that they were the beneficiaries of some sort of error.

The Economist

Of course, it's also possible that there was some sort of error that caused an untimely mistake.

TechCrunch

But if there's some sort of error in the calculation, we might have more power, so we're sitting tight at the moment".

BBC

Jean-Paul Jean-Paul Sartre40) has often been credited with the idea that works of art are illusory (in the sense of systematically being the object of some sort of error about their mode of existence), but it is not obvious that this is the best interpretation of his remarks on the topic.

SEP

The only thing that I could think of was that perhaps I had made some sort of error at work and that I was in some serious trouble for it.

Huffington Post

Just as with different results in different species, when results differ between two populations of the same species, we cannot distinguish real population differences from some sort of error.

BMC Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

He's going to try to say he didn't – that the porn fav was some sort of complex error, caused by hacking, or the human error of one of his staff, or better yet Twitter the website malfunctioned, covertly placing a porn tweet in his favs – but yeah, no.

Vice

They'll either assume there's more to the poem -- perhaps out of a benighted optimism -- or reflexively blame themselves for the error (attributing the absence of any poem-text to their shoddy computer, a connectivity problem, or some sort of human error).

Huffington Post

Presumably some sort of administrative error.

The Guardian - Sport

Then she suggested it was some sort of computer error".

The Guardian

"Arthritis arthritis?" he asks, confoundedly, as if his involvement in the ageing process has to be some sort of administrative error.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "some sort of error", ensure the context clarifies whether further detail about the error is known or relevant. If the specific nature of the error is known, it's better to be more precise.

Common error

Avoid relying on "some sort of error" repeatedly in a single text. If possible, investigate and identify the specific error type for clarity and credibility. Provide more context when possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "some sort of error" functions as a vague noun phrase, indicating the existence of an unspecified mistake or problem. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for general references. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its usage across various contexts, signaling an issue without specifying its exact nature.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "some sort of error" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate an unspecified mistake or problem. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase works across various writing styles. While versatile, it's essential to consider context; providing more specific details about the error is preferable when possible. Alternatives like "a kind of error" or "a mistake" can be suitable substitutes depending on the desired level of formality. While the phrase appears mainly in news and media or scientific sources, it can fit across multiple writing styles and tones, as the AI confirms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a kind of error

Replaces "sort" with "kind", maintaining the general meaning of an unspecified error.

a type of error

Substitutes "sort" with "type", providing another common synonym for classification.

a form of error

Uses "form" instead of "sort", suggesting a specific manifestation of an error.

an instance of error

Replaces "sort" with "instance", focusing on a particular occurrence of an error.

a species of error

Employs "species" in place of "sort", indicating a more specific or categorized error.

some error

A shorter version of the phrase, less specific about the nature of the error.

a glitch

Informal term indicating a small, unexpected error, often technical.

an anomaly

Suggests a deviation or irregularity, which could be an error.

a mistake

A general term for an incorrect action or judgment.

an oversight

Implies an error due to inattention or carelessness.

FAQs

How can I use "some sort of error" in a sentence?

You can use "some sort of error" to indicate an unspecified mistake or problem. For example, "The system crashed due to some sort of error in the code."

What are alternatives to "some sort of error"?

Alternatives include "a kind of error", "a type of error", or "a mistake" depending on the context.

Is it better to be specific instead of saying "some sort of error"?

Yes, whenever possible, being specific about the nature of the error is preferable for clarity. Use "some sort of error" when the exact nature of the issue is unknown or irrelevant to the discussion.

What does "some sort of" imply when describing an error?

"Some sort of" implies the speaker or writer is aware an error occurred, but lacks precise details about its nature. It suggests uncertainty or generality.