Learn
Watch & LearnLearning Paths
Daily EnglishSocial EnglishProfessional EnglishVOA English
Words and Their StoriesLearning Expressions with VOA
Processed with VS1Use phrases for choosing the safer option, recognizing a serious change in behavior, and learning by testing ideas.
VOA source audio
Source: VOA Learning English · Words and Their Stories
View original article & transcript“Err on the side of caution” means choose the safer option when there is uncertainty; the phrase can also pair with qualities such as generosity. To “see the error of your ways” is to recognize and correct a serious pattern of harmful behavior. A “margin of error” describes uncertainty around a measurement or estimate, while “trial and error” means learning by testing approaches and adjusting. The familiar proverb “to err is human” is already covered elsewhere, so this lesson focuses on the other phrases.
Cultural note: “See the error of your ways” is serious and judgmental; it implies a person recognized and corrected a meaningful problem, not merely that someone else forced a change. “Margin of error” is a statistical idea and should not be used vaguely to imply that any estimate is unreliable. “Err on the side of caution” is a general phrase, not specialized medical, legal, or safety guidance.
Keep exploringEnglish has different ways to talk about prudent choices, measured uncertainty, and learning after an attempt does not work.
Phrase guide · 5 expressions
Original explanations and examples, created for learners. Save a card for later or hear the phrase spoken by your browser.
Describe leaning toward safety, generosity, or another value under uncertainty.
Meaning
Choose the safer or more careful option when the best choice is uncertain.
Tone & use
Common in advice and professional settings. It signals a preference, not a guarantee that the choice is risk-free.
Example
“The trail report was several days old, so we erred on the side of caution and chose a shorter route.”
Meaning
Choose to be more generous than the minimum expected.
Tone & use
A value-based choice, not an obligation to give beyond your means.
Example
“When dividing credit for the project, she erred on the side of generosity and named every contributor.”
Understand a serious phrase about self-directed change.
Meaning
Recognize that a serious pattern of your behavior was wrong and change it.
Tone & use
Often moralizing or dramatic. Use it carefully; it implies insight and self-correction, not just compliance.
Example
“After seeing how missed check-ins affected the rest of the team, he saw the error of his ways and set a dependable schedule.”
Distinguish statistical uncertainty from practical learning through attempts.
Meaning
The amount by which a measurement, estimate, or result may differ from the true value.
Tone & use
A technical/statistical phrase. Report the actual range where possible rather than using it as a vague excuse.
Example
“The survey estimated support at 52 percent, with a margin of error of three percentage points.”
Meaning
A way of finding a solution by testing different approaches and learning from the results.
Tone & use
Common and neutral. In high-stakes situations, experiments may need expert oversight or a safer method.
Example
“We used trial and error to find a comfortable layout for the shared workspace.”
Knowledge check
Choose the expression that best fits each situation.
Try it · Choose the best expression
1 of 3