trivial errors

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "trivial errors" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to minor mistakes that are not significant or impactful. Example: "The report was well-written, but it contained a few trivial errors that needed to be corrected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 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

Information security affects, and is affected by, all individuals in an organization, and seemingly trivial errors by a single user can have existential consequences.

Harvard Business Review

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

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

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 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

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

Several examples of diminishing returns are illustrated to show that efforts to reduce error in analytical recovery and concentration estimates can have negligible effect if they are directed at trivial error sources.

Water Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "trivial errors", ensure the context clearly indicates the errors genuinely have minimal impact. Avoid using the phrase if the potential consequences are significant, even if the errors seem small.

Common error

Avoid using "trivial errors" to downplay mistakes that could accumulate into larger problems. Even individually minor errors can collectively cause significant issues if left unaddressed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "trivial errors" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically used as an object or complement within a sentence. It denotes mistakes that are considered minor or insignificant. As evidenced by Ludwig, it's often used to qualify the nature of mistakes in reports, data, or processes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "trivial errors" refers to minor mistakes that are not significant or impactful. Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in news, science, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the errors are genuinely insignificant to avoid misrepresentation. Alternatives include "minor mistakes" and "insignificant errors". Although individual "trivial errors" are not impactful, it is still important to keep in mind that if left unchecked, small mistakes can accumulate and turn into a bigger problem.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor mistakes

Focuses on the small scale and insignificance of the errors.

insignificant errors

Emphasizes the lack of importance or impact of the errors.

unimportant errors

Directly states that the errors do not matter significantly.

inconsequential mistakes

Underscores the errors' lack of influence or effect on the overall outcome.

negligible errors

Highlights that the errors are so small as to be almost nonexistent in their effect.

minor inaccuracies

Shifts the focus slightly to a lack of precision rather than outright mistakes, but still implies a low level of importance.

small oversights

Suggests the errors were caused by inattention or carelessness, but remain unimportant.

petty faults

Emphasizes the errors are small-minded, and of very little importance.

slight imperfections

Softens the term "errors" by using more gentle language such as "imperfections"

piddling errors

Implies the errors are ridiculously small and insignificant.

FAQs

How can I use "trivial errors" in a sentence?

You can use "trivial errors" to describe minor mistakes that don't significantly impact the overall outcome. For example: "The report was well-researched, despite a few "trivial errors" in the formatting."

What are some alternatives to saying "trivial errors"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "minor mistakes", "insignificant errors", or "negligible errors".

Are "trivial errors" always unimportant?

While "trivial errors" are, by definition, of little consequence individually, it's important to consider whether their accumulation might lead to a more significant problem. Even small mistakes can be problematic if they're numerous or systematic.

What's the difference between "trivial errors" and "non-trivial errors"?

"Trivial errors" are minor and inconsequential, while "non-trivial errors" are significant and can have a substantial impact. The distinction lies in the level of consequence.