Question
Updated on
1 Jan 2015
- Simplified Chinese (China)
- Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)
-
English (UK)
-
Japanese
-
English (US)
Question about English (UK)
What is the difference between error and mistake and fault ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
What is the difference between error and mistake and fault ?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
Answers
Read more comments
- English (UK)
Error is usually used when something goes wrong in a process, and usually used when it comes to things involving machines: "The computer gave me a 404 error." But you could also use 'human error' to suggest it was a person: "The delivery failed due to human error." However, that isn't that common to hear.
Mistake is when it's a person that caused the problem. "I made a mistake on the test." It also suggests you knew better/could have avoided it, that sort of thing. "I made a mistake that caused a lot of people trouble." Typically involves an accident of some sort, like where you did something by accident.
Fault is pointing the blame at someone/something. "It is my fault that I didn't do my paper on time." Or "It's my father's fault that we were late." It may be accidental, but using "fault" tends to sound negative.
Was this answer helpful?
- English (UK)
"Fault" also means "a bad action or habit" in people - for example "he has his faults".
In electric circuits or machinery, it means "a break or defect" - "there was a fault in the motherboard which caused the CPU to overheat."
In computing, errors tend to occur in software while faults occur in hardware, though that's not always clear-cut (for example, a segmentation fault, which is where the hardware tells the OS that some bit of software has done something wrong). Mistakes are caused by the user. =)
Highly-rated answerer
Was this answer helpful?
- Simplified Chinese (China)
- Traditional Chinese (Taiwan)
- English (UK)
Error can be used when describing something to do with machinery or technology and isn't often used when describing an incident caused by human interactivity.
Mistake is something that could have been avoided and there are usually solutions to a mistake. For example 'Yesterday, I yelled at a man for taking my groceries. It was my mistake, he was just helping me carry them to my car.'
Fault can have a lot of connotations and can be used with people mechanical or human activities. For example, there can be a 'fault' with your hairdryer. When blaming someone for an action, the phrase 'It was your fault!' is commonly used.
Hope this helps, from the UK. ( ´ ▽ ` )ノ
Was this answer helpful?
[News] Hey you! The one learning a language!
Do you know how to improve your language skills❓ All you have to do is have your writing corrected by a native speaker!
With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ✍️✨.
With HiNative, you can have your writing corrected by native speakers for free ✍️✨.
Sign up
Related questions
Similar questions
- The more errors has been encountered, the stronger you would become. Does this sound natural?
- The error will put off the experiment by a day. Does this sound natural?
- When any errors happened, the error message will appear on your PC. Does this sound natural?
Recommended Questions
- What is the difference between on and above over ?
- What is the difference between wary and shy ?
- What is the difference between pertinent and relevant ?
- What is the difference between anxiety and worry ?
- What is the difference between to excite an emotion/agitation and to arouse an emotion and to evo...
Topic Questions
- What is the difference between curly-haired and permed ?
- What is the difference between Could have and Should have ?
- What is the difference between "I'm counting for" and "I'm looking forward to" ?
- What is the difference between I can't help ~ and I can't help but ~ ?
- What is the difference between "the clinic" and "the doctor's office" ?
Newest Questions
- What is the difference between stick to the deadline and meet the deadline ?
- What is the difference between an hour delay and an hour’s delay ?
- What is the difference between gramma and grandma and grandmother ?
- What is the difference between bright and gaudy ?
- What is the difference between •I like dancing. •I like eating fruit. and I like to dance. I li...
Previous question/ Next question
Thank you! Rest assured your feedback will not be shown to other users.
Thank you very much! Your feedback is greatly appreciated.