to be prone to error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to be prone to error" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something, or someone, that is likely to make mistakes. For example, "Since the process was so complex, it was prone to error."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

As stated above, measurements are expected to be prone to error due to the usually small set of correspondences available, hence the measurement error should be tuned to be larger than the process noise (in the proposed configuration it is Q = 10-6, R = 10-3).

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Self-reported estimates of water habits are likely to be prone to error.

Environmental Health Perspectives

However, ROIs defined on FDG-PET images are know to be prone to error as far as tumour boundaries are concerned and are highly dependent on the level of threshold chosen.

European Radiology

The detailed spelling of a name, particularly if it is associated with a minority ethnic group, is more likely to be prone to error when transcribed by a third party onto NHS records, than in the census where the census informant writes it.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The bismuth-coated electrode is shown to be prone to errors caused by the formation of Cu Zn intermetallic compound, that can be circumvented by the addition of gallium, in a manner analogous to mercury film electrodes.

Analytica Chimica Acta

The HTA has been shown to be prone to errors in rotation and location of the central beam as well as insufficient weight application [8].

Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

All control channels are modeled to be prone to errors, leading to losing partial CSI of the system at the CU and/or losing precoded user data at the cooperating TNs.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

As single trees are assumed to be prone to errors, RFR builds many regression trees (i.e. a forest) from random subsets of the input data and validates the results on the withheld data.

Carbon Balance and Management

Extraction of diffusion parameters is known to be prone to errors at low SNR [56].

Plosone

First, we excluded the sites that were located near repetitive DNA elements and homopolymers which were known to be prone to errors from existing experimental methods.

Cell Research

This representation of distractor items would be prone to error because it would have to be continually maintained, monitored, updated and extended.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing systems or processes, use "to be prone to error" to highlight potential weaknesses or areas needing improvement. This is a clear and direct way to communicate potential problems.

Common error

Avoid using "to be prone to error" when a system or process is generally reliable. Reserve this phrase for situations where there is a demonstrable risk of mistakes, or it can come off as exaggeration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to be prone to error" functions as a descriptive phrase, typically used as a predicate adjective. It indicates a tendency or likelihood for something to produce mistakes or inaccuracies. As noted by Ludwig, it's a valid and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to be prone to error" is a grammatically correct and understandable expression used to describe something that is likely to make mistakes. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While relatively rare in occurrence, it is frequently found in scientific and news-related contexts, serving the purpose of warning or informing about potential unreliability. When using this phrase, consider the level of potential errors to avoid overstating the susceptibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be liable to err

This alternative uses "liable" to emphasize the responsibility or potential for making errors.

to be susceptible to mistakes

This alternative highlights vulnerability or openness to making mistakes.

to be at risk of inaccuracy

This focuses on the potential for results or information to be incorrect.

to be inclined to make errors

This suggests a natural tendency or predisposition towards making mistakes.

to be vulnerable to inaccuracies

This emphasizes the state of being unprotected against errors.

to have a tendency to slip up

This is a more informal way of saying something is likely to have errors.

to have a weak spot for errors

This uses metaphorical language to describe a particular vulnerability.

to run the risk of being incorrect

This highlights the possibility of producing wrong results.

to open the door to mistakes

This metaphorical phrase suggests allowing opportunities for errors to occur.

to have a high miss rate

This alternative focuses on error rate, emphasizing the statistical possibility of mistakes.

FAQs

How can I use "to be prone to error" in a sentence?

You can use "to be prone to error" to describe something that is likely to make mistakes. For example: "Since the process was so complex, it was prone to error."

What's the difference between "to be prone to error" and "to be subject to error"?

While both phrases indicate a likelihood of errors, "to be prone to error" suggests a natural inclination or vulnerability, while "to be subject to error" implies exposure to conditions that might cause errors.

What can I say instead of "to be prone to error"?

You can use alternatives like "to be liable to err", "to be susceptible to mistakes", or "to be at risk of inaccuracy" depending on the context.

In what contexts is "to be prone to error" most appropriate?

"To be prone to error" is suitable when describing systems, processes, or even individuals where mistakes are a foreseeable risk, particularly in fields like science, technology, or healthcare.