How to Use err on the side of in a Sentence

err on the side of

idiom
Definition of err on the side ofnext
  • To extend the lifespan of your favorite undergarments, err on the side of caution and air-dry them.
    — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2024
  • Some displays tend to err on the side of scary, while others are spooky-chic.
    — Lizzy Rosenberg, Peoplemag, 8 Oct. 2023
  • 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
  • So, err on the side of caution and don't touch your eyes without washing your hands.
    — Susan Brickell, Health, 9 Mar. 2023
  • The best advice is often the simplest: When in doubt, err on the side of caution and comfort.
    — Hanna Lustig, Glamour, 3 Nov. 2022
  • To give this palette a modern spin, err on the side of earth tones as opposed to the bright, campy colors of decades past.
    — Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Aug. 2023
  • Use your senses and, when in doubt, err on the side of undermixing.
    — Chris Morocco, Bon Appétit, 24 Mar. 2023
  • The isolation approach is designed to err on the side of caution.
    — Dustin Webber, Forbes, 11 July 2022
  • Of course baby + rambunctious dog = err on the side of caution.
    — Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2023
  • During these nine months, you are encouraged to err on the side of caution to keep you and your little one healthy.
    — Sarah Bradley, Parents, 22 July 2024
  • There were times last season, Finch said, when he was tempted to err on the side of rest with his young Timberwolves team.
    — Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 28 Oct. 2022
  • Roberts, who will err on the side of shorter stints with his starters after losing Buehler, was thrilled with the resistance.
    — Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2022
  • 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
  • But law enforcement agencies err on the side of caution.
    — Faith Karimi, CNN, 30 Oct. 2023
  • Even more so than the original game, this version takes care to err on the side of absurdity and heart over anger and spite.
    — Sam MacHkovech, Ars Technica, 27 Apr. 2022
  • But, to err on the side of caution, people should not consume the affected crackers.
    — Julia Landwehr, Health, 21 Aug. 2023
  • Buttigieg for instance, may prefer to err on the side of caution when describing the challenges ahead.
    — Kevin O'Marah, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024
  • Rather than using the full powers of the statutes Congress has written, agencies will likely err on the side of caution.
    — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 25 June 2024
  • For a choke, go no tighter than Modified and err on the side of a wider choke—Improved being the ideal constriction.
    — Matthew Every, Field & Stream, 18 Oct. 2023
  • But for the most part, the Academy tries to err on the side of inclusiveness in this category.
    — Paul Grein, Billboard, 13 Oct. 2022
  • Always err on the side of caution with fertilization: less is more.
    — Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2024
  • Again, consider the ever-expanding palette that the bride may be playing with—and when in doubt, err on the side of caution.
    — Maria Ward, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2023
  • Powell noted that the Fed continues to err on the side of caution on inflation.
    — Paul R. La Monica, CNN, 1 Feb. 2023
  • In general, err on the side of slightly larger to ensure comfort.
    — Rachel Rothman, Good Housekeeping, 8 June 2023
  • If there's a real wobble going on, err on the side of caution, and leave them in for a few additional minutes.
    — Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 29 July 2023
  • With the weight of the workforce, the bottom line, and the company’s future on their shoulders, leaders are generally told to err on the side of caution.
    — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2023
  • If in doubt as to whether there are utility lines present, err on the side of calling to have the utilities located for your property.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2023
  • If in doubt as to whether there are utility lines present, err on the side of calling to have the utilities located for your property.
    — Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2023
  • But desperate times call for desperate measures, and so the wiser path is to err on the side of action rather than inaction.
    — Meg Jacobs, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2020
  • When faced with an unknown menace, politicians, health advisers, and yes, the general public were bound to err on the side of caution.
    — Dan Hannan, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 June 2024

Some of 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.

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