Trial and Error: What It Means and How To Use It
What Is “Trial and Error”?
Trial and error is a “process of trying different possibilities, approaches, or methods, learning from each error until you get to the solution.”
The students found the answer through a process of trial and error.
The students found the answer through a process of try and error.
Trial and Error – Meaning
Trial and error is a noun phrase. It refers to “the process of trying various methods until you come to the correct solution or desired result.”
Let’s say you’re a beginner artist. You need to blend paint to create a purple color, which you’ve run out of. You know you should start with red paint and mix another color into it, but can’t remember which. You try green, but that doesn’t work. Adding yellow doesn’t work either. Finally, you add blue and get the purple paint you wanted. This whole process was one of trial and error.
Becoming an artist requires a lot of trial and error.
Trial and Error – Spelling
Sometimes some people spell trial and error as “try and error”, but that’s incorrect. This mistake is understandable because if said aloud (and quickly), it might sound like someone is saying “try and error”.
This mistake may also arise because trial and error is basically trying something and then trying something else until you get what you need. The only correct spelling of this phrase is trial and error.
After much trial and error, Raquel and I baked the best cookies ever.
After much try and error, Raquel and I baked the best cookies ever.
We were informed that the best way to develop our skill set would be through trial and error.
We were informed that the best way to develop our skill set would be through try and error.
Avoid Trial and Error When Writing
Trial and error is a useful process when learning to do almost anything. However, if you want to become a skilled writer, you can cut through the process of trial and error by using LanguageTool as your spelling and grammar checker. This advanced multilingual editor can correct various types of mistakes, improve formatting, and even rephrase your sentences. Try it today.