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Is it human to err?
Many people are familiar with the word err from encountering it in the epigram “to err is human; to forgive, divine.” This phrase is found in Alexander Pope’s An Essay on Criticism, from 1711. Earlier expressions of the same sentiment exist, as in Thomas Jones’ 1678 book, Of the Heart, and its Right Soveraign, which contains the line “to err, is human, to recover, is Angelical; to persevere is Diabolical.”
Err is also often found in the phrase err on the side of caution, to suggest that being overly cautious is better than not being cautious enough.
Err stems from the Latin word errare, meaning “to stray, wander,” and it retained that meaning when it first entered English. We find the same Latin ancestor at the root of the words error, erratic, and erroneous.
Examples of err in a Sentence
Jennifer Kavanagh, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
It is hotly debated in Ukraine whether Mr. Zelensky erred in his messaging by responding to insults from Mr. Trump with a few snipes of his own, rather than diplomatically navigating the U.S. president’s attacks.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Now, the lawyer — Nicole C. Pearson — and the libertarian legal support group Liberty Justice Center have filed a brief before the California Court of Appeals, arguing that the trial court erred in siding with Bonta and dismissing the suit.
—Andrew Sheeler, Sacramento Bee, 20 Feb. 2025
There’s a fine line between accuracy and caricature, but Potter’s clothes err on the right side.
—Mark Peikert, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for err
Cite this Entry
“Err.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/err. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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err
intransitive verb
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