error message vs error description

Both 'error message' and 'error description' are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. 'Error message' refers to a specific notification that informs the user about a problem or issue, while 'error description' is more general and refers to a detailed explanation of the error. They are not interchangeable as they serve different purposes.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1371 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in the context of software or technology to refer to a specific notification that informs the user about a problem or issue.

"error message"

Use 'error message' when referring to a specific notification that informs the user about a problem or issue, especially in the context of software, technology, or systems.

Examples:

The error message displayed on the screen indicated a problem with the network connection.
Please provide the error message you received so we can troubleshoot the issue.

Show examples from the web [+]

The display manager sent an unknown error message.
Typical error message in system log:
An error message keeps popping up.
I have an error message telling me the pictures cannot be found.
Click on the Edit Account button in the error message.
Click the edit icon in the error message.
The numbers represent an error message that high-tech systems encounter... when they can't boot up.
If your system is n't set up to establish an Internet connection if necessary, you will get an error message each time you select a newsgroup.
The error message from Qt is:
If the digital tachograph system has not been tampered with, an error message will appear (no motion sensor).
Best known from the error message: KLauncher could not be reached via DBus which either indicates a serious problem with the dcopserver or that klauncher crashed.
The statemachine describing file %1 is not valid. The error message is: %2 in line %3, column %4.
When I want to answer an article an error message appears telling me that the external editor could not be started, but the editor is correctly set.
An error message such as Unknown Host usually means that & konqueror; cannot find a connection to the Internet or that you have entered an incorrect & URL;.
If you try to open a document with format that Evince Document Viewer does not recognize, the application displays an error message.
No connection could be created. The error message was: %1
The error message if the null conduit is supposed to fail
If, however, there is not such an error message, this will indicate the presence of another, concealed motion sensor or some other electronic manipulation device.
If an error occurs when an alarm triggers, an error message will be displayed (unless you have previously specified not to show that type of message again).
The DTD tag file %1 is not valid. The error message is: %2 in line %3, column %4.

Alternatives:

warning message
notification
alert

This phrase is correct and is used to refer to a detailed explanation of an error or problem. It is more general than 'error message' and provides additional information about the issue.

"error description"

Use 'error description' when you need to provide a detailed explanation of an error or problem, especially in technical or troubleshooting contexts.

Examples:

The error description in the log file helped the technician identify the root cause of the issue.
Can you provide an error description so we can better understand the problem?

Show examples from the web [+]

Could not write the file %1: "%2" is the detailed error description.
There are new things for a plug-in developer to enjoy as well. For example, procedures can now give a detailed error description in case of an error, and the error can be propagated to the user.
Error Description 2 beeps repeated 8 times (approximately 15 seconds) and red light turns off before 10 minutes 4 continuous beeps and red light turns off before 10 minutes
Error while reading filter description for %1. Empty command line received.
Mr President, I would just like to point out that there are a number of serious errors in the description of the economic situation in Sweden in the Commission's report.
There is not a group description for every group, so it is not an error if no group description is shown when subscribing to a group later on.
Since there has been an error parsing the highlighting description, this highlighting will be disabled
Error codes - sorted on code description
An error which has occurred in the CN code and the description of the product Yoghurt should be corrected.
An error which has occurred in the CN code and the description of the product 'Yoghurt' should be corrected.
Description of the methods used to reduce measurement and processing errors(4)
Description of procedure for correcting accounts following procedural or clerical errors and its effect on shipper/receiver differences.
Description of procedure for correcting accounts owing to procedural or clerical errors and the effect on shipper/receiver differences, if applicable.
There is a description of harmonisation in the report which, according to Mrs Weiler, is a translation error.
Also description of statistical procedures used to combine individual error estimates to obtain the standard deviations of overall error for shipper/receiver differences, the book inventory, the physical inventory and material unaccounted for.
The group descriptions could not be retrieved. The following error occurred:
a description of different sources of measurement errors likely to be found in the survey,
dynamic text is a more detailed dynamic description of the error,
Description of the principal results of the audits, indicating in particular the amount of irregular expenditure and the error rate resulting from the random sample audited.
description of the balancing measures, maximum permissible balance error;

Alternatives:

issue explanation
problem description
troubleshooting details

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error message vs error description

"error message"

"error description"

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