trivial error

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trivial error" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a minor mistake that is not significant or impactful in the context of a larger issue. Example: "The report was well-researched, but it contained a trivial error in the data presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

"This trivial error was turned into a huge misjudgment".

The New York Times

Or, "surely that's such a trivial error…" What is amazing, is that apart from this seemingly endless list of corrections, it's quite a favourable notice.

The Guardian

The developers, at risk of losing tens of millions of dollars in sales, fought back, saying they had made a trivial error that should be ignored.

The New York Times

Over the years, the hole argument was deemed to be a trivial error by an otherwise insightful Einstein.

SEP

A comparison with results for no-shear plug flow reveals the relatively minor effects of shear (so that the approximating velocity profile produces only trivial error).

Chemical Engineering Science

The small difference between the results at low values of transmit power is due to a trivial error in PDF estimation at low values of SNR.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The disclosure of apparently trivial errors in the U.N.'s 2007 climate report has given Senate critics fresh ammunition.

The New York Times

In the first years, economists, and philosophers, too, were simply not interested in the trivial errors that we as psychologists were studying.

The New York Times - Health

The strategy fulfilled a Tory manifesto promise by scrapping fines for "trivial" errors such as putting rubbish in the wrong containers or leaving dustbins open.

Independent

The vice president, conscious of the need to avoid being overbearing or committing trivial errors, at times did not look like his normal self, and it changed the chemistry of the encounter.

The New York Times

Or reluctantly assume that one's biggest enemy's biggest enemy is to some extent one's friend.Mr Davies's book also contains a number of irritating, trivial errors.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trivial error", ensure the context clearly establishes that the mistake has minimal impact on the overall outcome or assessment. For emphasis, contrast it with potentially significant errors.

Common error

Avoid using "trivial error" to describe mistakes that have substantial consequences. This can undermine your credibility and misrepresent the actual impact of the error.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trivial error" functions as a noun phrase, where "trivial" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "error". It describes the type or nature of the error as being insignificant. As Ludwig AI suggests, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

6.67%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6.67%

Wiki

6.67%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "trivial error" denotes a minor, inconsequential mistake. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various writing styles. Predominantly found in scientific and news contexts, it serves to minimize the impact of errors. For alternative expressions, consider "minor mistake" or "insignificant inaccuracy". When employing this phrase, ensure that the error truly is insignificant to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Minor mistake

This alternative directly replaces "trivial error" with simpler terms, maintaining the core meaning of a small, unimportant mistake.

Insignificant inaccuracy

Replaces "error" with "inaccuracy" and "trivial" with "insignificant", emphasizing the lack of importance of the mistake.

Negligible oversight

Focuses on the aspect of overlooking something unimportant, using "negligible" to highlight its lack of impact.

Petty fault

Emphasizes the smallness and insignificance of the error, using "petty" to convey a sense of triviality.

Small slip-up

Informal alternative indicating a minor and easily forgiven mistake.

Minor imperfection

Highlights a small flaw or blemish, using "imperfection" to describe the error.

Unimportant blunder

Emphasizes the lack of consequence associated with the mistake, using "blunder" to suggest a careless error.

Paltry mistake

Uses "paltry" to express the insignificance of the mistake.

Frivolous error

Highlights the lack of seriousness or importance of the error, emphasizing its frivolous nature.

Minimal discrepancy

Focuses on a small difference or inconsistency, using "discrepancy" to describe the error.

FAQs

What does "trivial error" mean?

A "trivial error" refers to a minor mistake or inaccuracy that has little to no significant impact on the overall outcome or result.

What can I say instead of "trivial error"?

You can use alternatives like "minor mistake", "insignificant inaccuracy", or "negligible oversight depending on the context.

Is it okay to ignore a "trivial error"?

Whether to ignore a "trivial error" depends on the context. In many situations, especially where precision is not critical, it may be acceptable. However, in fields requiring high accuracy, even small errors should be addressed.

How does a "trivial error" differ from a serious error?

A "trivial error" has minimal or no impact on the result, whereas a serious error can significantly alter outcomes and conclusions.