Meaning & use
errors of commission
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Meanings
phraseplural
Mistakes made by doing something that should not have been done, especially when the action causes harm.
Grammar: Always plural; the singular form is 'an error of commission'. It contrasts with 'errors of omission' (failing to act).
Patterns
- errors of commission
- an error of commission
- commit errors of commission
The report blamed the disaster on errors of commission by senior managers who ignored safety warnings.
In medicine, errors of commission are often more obvious than errors of omission because a wrong action leaves a clear trace.
The audit found that most financial losses came from errors of commission rather than from simply failing to act.
phraseplurallegallaw
In law, wrongful acts that a person actively performs, as opposed to failing to perform a duty.
Grammar: A legal term; usually appears in discussions of liability or negligence. The singular 'error of commission' is also used.
Patterns
- liability for errors of commission
- errors of commission and omission
The court distinguished between errors of commission, such as signing a false document, and errors of omission, such as not filing a required report.
Under the new regulations, both errors of commission and errors of omission can lead to penalties.
Common combinations
- errors of commission and omission
- The review covered both errors of commission and omission in the handling of the case.
- commit an error of commission
- A doctor who gives the wrong drug commits an error of commission.
- avoid errors of commission
- Careful training can help employees avoid errors of commission.
- a serious error of commission
- Leaving the patient unattended was a serious error of commission.
Synonyms and how they differ
- mistake
- A general word for any wrong action or judgment; 'error of commission' is more formal and specifically means doing something wrong rather than failing to do something.
- blunder
- Suggests a careless or embarrassing mistake; 'error of commission' is neutral and often used in technical or legal contexts.
- wrongdoing
- Focuses on moral or legal fault; 'error of commission' can be used even when there is no intention to do wrong.
Opposites
Word family
- error of commission noun
- The singular form, meaning one such mistake.
- commission noun
- The act of doing something, especially something wrong or illegal.
Commonly confused: errors of commission or errors of omission? errors of commission or error of judgment?
errors of commission vs errors of omission
These are mistakes made by not doing something that should have been done, the opposite of errors of commission.
errors of commission vs error of judgment
This means a mistake in deciding something, which may involve either action or inaction; it is broader.
Practice
The investigation criticized the police for ______, such as arresting the wrong person, rather than for failing to act.
Choose one answer.
'Errors of commission' fits because the police actively did something wrong (arresting the wrong person). 'Errors of omission' is the opposite, meaning failures to act, and 'errors of judgment' is too general.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “errors of commission”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.