Meaning & use
erring
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“erring” is a form of “err”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
adjectivebefore a nounold-fashioned
Doing something wrong or falling short of what is right, especially in a way others hope can be corrected.
Grammar: Comes before the noun it describes: an erring child, not 'the child is erring'.
Patterns
- an erring son
- erring employees
The principal gave the erring student another chance.
The company fined its erring managers.
She forgave her erring brother.
verbintransitive
The -ing form of err: making a mistake or choosing one side of a judgment when unsure.
Grammar: No object; usually followed by on the side of: they are erring on the side of caution.
Patterns
- err on the side of something
- err in something
We are erring on the side of caution and closing the trail.
The referee was erring in his judgment of that tackle.
By erring too often, the system lost users' trust.
Word forms
| base form | err |
|---|---|
| third person singular | errs |
| past tense | erred |
| -ing form | erring |
Common combinations
- erring on the side of caution
- The doctors are erring on the side of caution and keeping her overnight.
- erring on the side of generosity
- He tipped well, erring on the side of generosity.
- erring husband
- The novel follows an erring husband trying to win back trust.
- erring ways
- He promised to mend his erring ways.
- erring student
- The college offers support to any erring student.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mistaken
- Mistaken describes a wrong belief or judgment, while erring often suggests behavior that strayed from what is right.
- wayward
- Wayward stresses stubborn, unpredictable misbehavior, whereas erring is milder and implies a lapse.
- faulty
- Faulty is used for things and systems that do not work properly, but erring is used for people.
- misguided
- Misguided suggests a wrong plan made with good intentions, while erring simply means making an error.
Opposites
Word family
- err verb
- to make a mistake
- error noun
- a mistake
- erroneous adjective
- wrong or based on a mistake
- erratic adjective
- unpredictable and not regular
- erroneously adverb
- by mistake
Commonly confused: erring or earring? erring or erratic?
erring vs earring
An earring is jewelry worn on the ear; erring comes from the verb err and has to do with mistakes.
erring vs erratic
Erratic means unpredictable or irregular, while erring means doing wrong or making a mistake.
Practice
Choose the best option: The hikers decided to turn back, _____ on the side of caution.
Choose one answer.
The fixed phrase is 'erring on the side of caution'. Earring is jewelry and errant is an adjective, so neither fits the verb pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “erring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.