the source of the error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the source of the error" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when identifying where a mistake originated in a process or system. Example: "After reviewing the code, we found the source of the error was a missing semicolon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

25 human-written examples

An earlier version of the above correction omitted the source of the error.

The New York Times

The source of the error, Coster-Mullen recognized, was an assumption that every (male) researcher who studied the subject had made about the relation between projectile and target.

The New Yorker

The Times compounded the error by appearing to attribute it in part to Ms. Giffords's own spokesman, who was not the source of the error.

The New York Times

But finding the source of the error would require knowing what smiles really are — where they come from and how people process them.

The New York Times - Science

Even if you know that your credit card company is the source of the error, it pays to send the dispute to all three bureaus as well.

The New York Times

The source of the error is found to be magnification of roundoff error by the recursion equation, which links coefficients of a function to those of its derivative.

Journal of Computational Physics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

35 human-written examples

"If voters themselves are the source of the errors, you don't have disparate impact".

The New York Times

It is among these assumptions that the source of the errors must lie.

The Guardian - Business

The survey you cite is not detailed enough to be able to determine the source of the errors being reported.

The New York Times

To accurately analyze the source of the errors, Fig. 3 presents the confusion matrices of the primary systems.

EURASIP Journal on Audio, Speech, and Music Processing

In such cases, site data were further examined to elucidate the source of the errors, and corrective action was taken to bring data quality within range of other sites.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "the source of the error", be specific and provide context. For example, instead of just stating "the source of the error was identified", specify what the source was (e.g., "the source of the error was a misconfiguration of the server").

Common error

Avoid using "the source of the error" without proper investigation. Ensure that the identified source is indeed the primary cause and not merely a contributing factor. Thorough analysis prevents misattribution.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the source of the error" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject complement or object of a sentence. It identifies the origin or cause of a mistake. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

30%

News & Media

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the source of the error" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that identifies the origin or cause of a mistake. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's applicable in various contexts, including scientific, academic, and news-related discussions. When using this phrase, aim for specificity to enhance clarity and avoid overgeneralization without proper investigation. Consider related phrases such as "the origin of the error" or "the cause of the error" for alternative phrasing. Remember to check all facts carefully before assuming you've identified the correct cause.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the origin of the error

Focuses on the starting point or initial cause of the error.

the root cause of the error

Emphasizes a deeper, more fundamental reason for the mistake.

the reason for the error

A more general term indicating the explanation or justification for the error.

the cause of the error

Highlights the direct instigator or producer of the error.

the location of the error

Indicates the specific place or point where the error occurred.

the genesis of the error

A more formal term for the beginning or creation of the error.

the point of failure

Highlights the specific moment or aspect where something went wrong.

the problem's origin

Shifts the focus to the broader issue and its initial cause.

the error's foundation

Suggests the underlying basis or principle from which the error arose.

the error's derivation

Highlights how the error developed or was obtained.

FAQs

How can I use "the source of the error" in a sentence?

You can use "the source of the error" to identify where a mistake originated, such as, "After debugging the code, we pinpointed "the source of the error".".

What's a simple substitute for "the source of the error"?

Alternatives include "the cause of the error" or "the origin of the mistake", depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "the source of the error" in writing?

It's appropriate when you need to clearly identify the origin or cause of a specific mistake, especially in technical or analytical contexts.

Is "the source of error" the same as "the source of the errors"?

No, "the source of error" (singular) refers to the origin of a single, specific mistake, while "the source of the errors" (plural) refers to the origin of multiple mistakes, potentially stemming from the same underlying issue. Be sure to choose the correct phrasing.