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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
Meaning of: "Err" as in "Err on the side of caution" not in dictionary?
I was just wondering. Is there a definition of "err" in the dicionary that fits into the context of the phrase to "err on the side of caution"? I look the word "err" up in the Merriam Webster dictionary and Dictionary.com, American Heritage dictionary and get the same thing:
1) To make an error or a mistake.
2) To violate accepted moral standards; sin.
3) Archaic. To stray.
None of these definitions sound like they fit the meaning of the word "err" in the phrase to "err on the side of caution". The context of the phrase leads me to believe the word "err" in this instance means, to "be on the side of caution" or something like that. If none of the definitions in the dictionary fit the word err in that phrase, maybe the dictionary editors should consider adding a new definition for their next editions? Sounds fair to me, since they've already gone ahead and added phrases such as "bling-bling". Oh, my bad. SHUDDERS
Any thoughts on this, anyone?
1) To make an error or a mistake.
2) To violate accepted moral standards; sin.
3) Archaic. To stray.
None of these definitions sound like they fit the meaning of the word "err" in the phrase to "err on the side of caution". The context of the phrase leads me to believe the word "err" in this instance means, to "be on the side of caution" or something like that. If none of the definitions in the dictionary fit the word err in that phrase, maybe the dictionary editors should consider adding a new definition for their next editions? Sounds fair to me, since they've already gone ahead and added phrases such as "bling-bling". Oh, my bad. SHUDDERS
Any thoughts on this, anyone?
Top answer
[nq:1]I was just wondering. Is there a definition of "err" in the dicionary that fits into the context of the ... since they've already gone ahead and added phrases such as "bling-bling".
- [nq:1]I was just wondering.
- Is there a definition of "err" in the dicionary that fits into the context of the ...
- since they've already gone ahead and added phrases such as "bling-bling".
- Oh, my bad.
- [/nq] Yeah, you didn't quite guess the meaning of the saying correctly.
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11 Answers
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[nq:1]I was just wondering. Is there a definition of "err" in the dicionary that fits into the context of the ... since they've already gone ahead and added phrases such as "bling-bling". Oh, my bad. SHUDDERS Any thoughts on this, anyone?[/nq]
Yeah, you didn't quite guess the meaning of the saying correctly. It does mean "err." Roughly, "If one is going to make a mistake, it is b
Yeah, you didn't quite guess the meaning of the saying correctly. It does mean "err." Roughly, "If one is going to make a mistake, it is b
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"Kurt Wyco" (Email Removed) ha scritto nel messaggio
[nq:1]None of these definitions sound like they fit the meaning of the word"err" in the phrase to "err on the side of caution".[/nq]
Why not? Mind I'm not a native speaker, but in my opinion that phrase means "it's better to err being too cautious than being too hasty".
Bye-bye, FB
[nq:1]None of these definitions sound like they fit the meaning of the word"err" in the phrase to "err on the side of caution".[/nq]
Why not? Mind I'm not a native speaker, but in my opinion that phrase means "it's better to err being too cautious than being too hasty".
Bye-bye, FB
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(Added AEU as the question was multiposted there too)
[nq:1]I was just wondering. Is there a definition of "err" in the dicionary that fits into the context of the ... since they've already gone ahead and added phrases such as "bling-bling". Oh, my bad. SHUDDERS Any thoughts on this, anyone?[/nq]
NSOED lists "err on the side of" within its fourth sense of the verb:
4. (v.i.) Mak
[nq:1]I was just wondering. Is there a definition of "err" in the dicionary that fits into the context of the ... since they've already gone ahead and added phrases such as "bling-bling". Oh, my bad. SHUDDERS Any thoughts on this, anyone?[/nq]
NSOED lists "err on the side of" within its fourth sense of the verb:
4. (v.i.) Mak
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[nq:2]I was just wondering. Is there a definition of "err" ... "bling-bling". Oh, my bad. SHUDDERS Any thoughts on this, anyone?[/nq]
[nq:1]NSOED lists "err on the side of" within its fourth sense of the verb: 4. (v.i.) Make a wrong judgement; form a wrong opinion; make a mistake, blunder.[/nq]
*Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary,* 11th ed., gives it as an example under the mea
[nq:1]NSOED lists "err on the side of" within its fourth sense of the verb: 4. (v.i.) Make a wrong judgement; form a wrong opinion; make a mistake, blunder.[/nq]
*Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary,* 11th ed., gives it as an example under the mea
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[nq:2]None of these definitions sound like they fit the meaning of the word "err" in the phrase to "err on the side of caution".[/nq]
[nq:1]Why not? Mind I'm not a native speaker, but in my opinion that phrase means "it's better to err being too cautious than being too hasty".[/nq]
Exactly. When making a decision, there are typically two sorts of mistakes you can make. Type One errors (aka
[nq:1]Why not? Mind I'm not a native speaker, but in my opinion that phrase means "it's better to err being too cautious than being too hasty".[/nq]
Exactly. When making a decision, there are typically two sorts of mistakes you can make. Type One errors (aka
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Makes sense to me now. You're right. I jumped to the wrong conclusion. If you are going to err, then err on the side of caution.
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} Exactly. When making a decision, there are typically two sorts of } mistakes you can make. Type One errors (aka "false positives") boil } down to "saying yes when you should have said no" and Type Two errors } (aka "false negatives") boil down to "saying no when you should have } said yes". There's typically a tradeoff between these two the fewer } false positives you get, the more false
} Exactly. When making a decision, there are typically two sorts of } mistakes you can make. Type One errors (aka "false positives") boil } down to "saying yes when you should have said no" and Type Two errors } (aka "false negatives") boil down to "saying no when you should have } said yes". There's typically a tradeoff between these two the fewer } false positives you get, the more false
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[nq:1]... } Exactly. When making a decision, there are typically two sorts of } mistakes you can make. Type One ... } false positives you get, the more false negatives you get. Would accepting that paragraph be a Type II error?[/nq]
What's the null hypothesis?
Evan Kirshenbaum + HP Laboratories >I like giving talks to industry,
1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 >because one o
What's the null hypothesis?
Evan Kirshenbaum + HP Laboratories >I like giving talks to industry,
1501 Page Mill Road, 1U, MS 1141 >because one o
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[nq:1]I was just wondering. Is there a definition of "err" in the dicionary that fits into the context of the ... look the word "err" up in the Merriam Webster dictionary and Dictionary.com, American Heritage dictionary and get the same thing:[/nq]
I unsubscribed from this NG and resubscribed, but every single posting is still about saliva.
Drool!
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South A
I unsubscribed from this NG and resubscribed, but every single posting is still about saliva.
Drool!
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South A
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[nq:1]I unsubscribed from this NG and resubscribed, but every single posting is still about saliva. Drool![/nq]
I suspect that something mucked with your newsreader, although I don't see any notes from anybody else mentioning this problem. Have you run a virus scan recently? You might want to uninstall and reinstall your reader. You might also want to check any configuration files your reader
I suspect that something mucked with your newsreader, although I don't see any notes from anybody else mentioning this problem. Have you run a virus scan recently? You might want to uninstall and reinstall your reader. You might also want to check any configuration files your reader
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