An error can be categorized as:
- Mistake – A mistake is a planning failure, where actions go as planned--but the plan was bad. These are errors of judgment, inference, and the like, that result in an incorrect intention, incorrect choice of criterion, or incorrect value judgment.
- Slip – A slip is an action not in accord with the intentions: a good plan but poor execution. Since they are part of automatic, unconscious actions, slips are unintended acts due to a break in the routine.
- Violation – A violation is when the wrong procedure is intentionally performed.