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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
John Tamny, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025
On May 22, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals granted a new trial, saying among other things the circuit court erred in disqualifying Khoury from offering testimony about the cause of the tire wear and requiring him to present an expert witness.
—Rick Barrett, jsonline.com, 14 July 2025
To err on the safe side, Sonja Muniz, social media and retail manager for East Austin Succulents (which shares a property with Tillery Street), recommends bringing most succulents in when temperatures drop to 40 degrees.
—Deborah Sengupta Stith, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Plus, a charcoal flame can err on the uneven side, which introduces the possibility of burning certain portions.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 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 29 Jul. 2025.
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err
intransitive verb
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