err on the side of
idiom
: to use or show more of (something) than may be needed so that one can be sure that he or she is using or showing enough of it
It's better to err on the side of generosity than to appear too stingy.
We chose to err on the side of caution when planning our investments.
Examples of err on the side of in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Midwest homes tend to err on the side of traditional or log cabin-style, which is why this home stands out among the rest.
—
Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Buttigieg for instance, may prefer to err on the side of caution when describing the challenges ahead.
—Kevin O'Marah, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The wines are global, and err on the side of bizarre.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2023
The Court would probably rather err on the side of protecting human rights than not granting provisional measures in genocide and other human rights cases.
—Jill Goldenziel, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Any public-health authority would have to weigh these odds in the face of a six-case cluster, and surely almost every statewide health authority would choose to err on the side of caution.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2024
The key, when cooking them, is to err on the side of less water, so your grains end up pearly and distinct.
—Emily Horton, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Until then, districts will continue to 'err on the side of caution' as they have been told to do at the expense of our children's education.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2024
Antitrust overreach is hurting American competitiveness Khan openly admits to preferring to err on the side of overly aggressive enforcement rather than too-passive enforcement.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2023
Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2024
Buttigieg for instance, may prefer to err on the side of caution when describing the challenges ahead.
—Kevin O'Marah, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
The wines are global, and err on the side of bizarre.
—Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 10 Dec. 2023
The Court would probably rather err on the side of protecting human rights than not granting provisional measures in genocide and other human rights cases.
—Jill Goldenziel, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024
Any public-health authority would have to weigh these odds in the face of a six-case cluster, and surely almost every statewide health authority would choose to err on the side of caution.
—Daniel Engber, The Atlantic, 22 Feb. 2024
The key, when cooking them, is to err on the side of less water, so your grains end up pearly and distinct.
—Emily Horton, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024
Until then, districts will continue to 'err on the side of caution' as they have been told to do at the expense of our children's education.
—Li Cohen, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2024
Antitrust overreach is hurting American competitiveness Khan openly admits to preferring to err on the side of overly aggressive enforcement rather than too-passive enforcement.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 7 Dec. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'err on the side of.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near err on the side of
Cite this Entry
“Err on the side of.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/err%20on%20the%20side%20of. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share