the slightest error

USAGE SUMMARY

"the slightest error" is correct and usable in written English.
It is commonly used to describe a very small mistake or mistake that is barely noticeable. Example: Despite her impeccable track record, she was still anxious about making even the slightest error in her presentation.

✓ Grammatically correct

Sports

Software Development

Heritage

Music

Olympics

Politics

Aviation

Medicine

Cybersecurity

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

The slightest error in direction makes it an easy four runs.

The New York Times - Sports

Most software is fragile: even the slightest error, such as changing a single bit, can make it crash.

Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science

The slightest error in one of these conditions can turn a routine upgrade into a system administrator's nightmare.

Science of Computer Programming

"I'm not saying it can't be repaired, but there is no room for the slightest error now.

The New York Times - Sports

The only time the Eagles' crowd did bother to boo was whenever DeSean Jackson made even the slightest error.

The New York Times

It is not hard to imagine every heritage inspector in the area poring over the drawings, pawing at the architects and waiting for the slightest error of judgment.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Thus far, it has only been gauged that 5° shows no real difference in performance (barring the slight error in the dip position).

Nanoscale Research Letters

However, the estimated harmonic frequencies between two grey bars in Figure 7(a) show that the slight error in fundamental frequency estimation results in the complete mismatch of higher harmonic frequency estimation.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The slight error introduced in individual peptide scoring does not influence the accuracy of the score histogram much since these errors largely cancel each other when lumping the scores into a histogram.

Plosone

This may be a concern for some applications, but since we have some slack in terms of how close one needs to be to the waypoint, this slight error does not detract from the device.

Cornell University

It doesn't actually have 666 panels, but apart from that slight error, the Da Vinci code is entirely factually correct: it is the Holy Grail.

The Guardian - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the slightest error" to emphasize the high stakes or potential consequences of even minor mistakes. For instance, in fields like surgery or aviation, precision is paramount.

Common error

Avoid using "the slightest error" when the potential consequences are trivial. Overusing it in unimportant situations can diminish its impact when you need to emphasize real risk.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the slightest error" functions as a noun phrase, often used as the subject or object of a sentence. It indicates a minimal mistake and its potential repercussions. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is widely accepted in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the slightest error" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to emphasize the potential consequences of even small mistakes. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across diverse contexts. Its neutral register makes it suitable for various forms of writing, from formal reports to news articles. While versatile, it's important to use it judiciously to maintain its impact and avoid overstating situations where the potential consequences are negligible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the minutest mistake

Replaces "slightest" with "minutest", emphasizing the extremely small nature of the error.

the smallest oversight

Substitutes "error" with "oversight", highlighting the unintentional nature of the mistake.

the merest slip-up

Uses the informal term "slip-up" instead of "error", suggesting a minor and easily made mistake.

the most insignificant fault

Replaces "slightest error" with "most insignificant fault", stressing the unimportance of the mistake itself.

the faintest imperfection

Employs "imperfection" instead of "error", emphasizing the lack of flawlessness.

the tiniest blunder

Uses the word "blunder", which implies a foolish or careless mistake.

the most marginal inaccuracy

Replaces "error" with "inaccuracy", making the phrase more formal and precise.

a negligible mistake

Uses "negligible mistake" implying the error is so small it is not worth considering.

an almost imperceptible error

Highlights the difficulty in noticing the error.

the most subtle error

Emphasizes that the error is not immediately obvious.

FAQs

How can I use "the slightest error" in a sentence?

You can use "the slightest error" to emphasize the potential negative consequences of even a small mistake. For example: "The slightest error in the code can crash the entire system."

What's the difference between "the slightest error" and "a small mistake"?

"The slightest error" emphasizes the minimal nature of the mistake and its potential impact, while "a small mistake" simply refers to the size of the mistake.

What can I say instead of "the slightest error"?

You can use alternatives like "the minutest mistake", "the smallest oversight", or "the merest slip-up" depending on the context.

Is "the slightest error" formal or informal?

"The slightest error" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the overall tone and purpose of your writing.