Say it like this
- File a bug report
- Submit a bug report to the tracking system
- We have three open bug reports for this sprint
Use it at work
Filing one
- I've filed a bug report with steps to reproduce.
- Please include screenshots and the browser version in your bug report.
Triaging
- This bug report doesn't have enough detail. Can you ask the user?
- We got three bug reports about login this morning.
With customers
- Thanks for the bug report. We're looking into it.
- Can you send us a bug report from the app's help menu?
Don't say this
Bug report is a noun, not a verb. Use 'file,' 'submit,' or 'create' with it.
Don't mix it up
| Term | What it is | Who writes or uses it | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| bug report | Description of something broken | Users, QA, anyone | When something fails |
| feature request | Request for something new | Users, sales, product | When something is missing |
| ticket | Tracked work item of any kind | The team | In the issue tracker |
Practice
Try it
4 quick exercises
1. You found a problem in the user interface. What do you do?
2. The developer asked me to _______ all issues I find in the testing phase so she can prioritize them.
3. Which sentence uses 'bug report' correctly?
4. Rewrite using 'bug report': 'When I test the software, I find problems and write documents describing them so the programmers know what to fix.'
Say it out loud
Phrase 1 of 3
"File a bug report"
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More about bug report
Real examples(3)
- in a standup meeting
"I filed a bug report for the payment page crashing when users select certain currencies."
- in a code review
"Before we merge this, we should check if there are any related bug reports we need to address."
- in a team meeting
"Our bug reports this week show a pattern of performance issues under high load."
More mistakes(2)
Handle with care. Do not use 'bug report' as a verb without 'submit,' 'file,' or 'create.' Say 'file a bug report' not 'bug report it.'
- ✕This bug report is very bug.✓This bug report describes a critical bug.
Bug report is the document itself; describe what type of issue it contains instead.
- ✕I wrote a bug report yesterday but nobody read it.✓I submitted a bug report yesterday, but the developer assigned to it has not started investigating.
Bug reports move through a process; specify who should read it and what action is expected.
Other forms(3)
- bug report noun (singular)
"We received a bug report about the mobile app crashing."
- bug reports noun (plural)
"The team prioritized the most critical bug reports for this release."
- bug report form / bug report system / bug report template noun (modifier)
"Please fill out the bug report form with as much detail as possible."
Often used with(8)
- file a bug report · Most common way to say you are creating and submitting a bug report
- submit a bug report · Similar to file; used interchangeably in most contexts
- create a bug report · Often used in agile environments with tracking software
- open bug report · A bug report that has not yet been resolved
- close a bug report · Mark a bug report as fixed or resolved
- duplicate bug report · A bug report about the same issue reported multiple times
- critical bug report · A bug report about a severe issue affecting core functionality
- bug report backlog · The collection of unresolved bug reports waiting to be fixed
Similar words(4)
- issue · Broader term; 'issue' can refer to bugs, feature requests, or other problems
- defect · More formal; emphasizes that the behavior deviates from requirements
- ticket · General term for any work item in a tracking system, including bug reports
- incident · Often used in production environments for urgent problems
Questions(5)
- What should I include in a bug report?
- A good bug report includes: a clear title describing the issue, steps to reproduce the problem, the expected behavior, the actual behavior, environment details (OS, browser, app version), and supporting files like screenshots, logs, or videos. The more specific you are, the faster developers can fix the issue.
- What is the difference between a bug report and an issue?
- A bug report specifically documents a defect or malfunction in software. An issue is a broader term that can include bugs, feature requests, improvements, or documentation problems. All bug reports are issues, but not all issues are bug reports.
- When should I file a bug report?
- File a bug report as soon as you discover unexpected behavior or a crash. The sooner you report it, the sooner the development team can investigate. Even if you are not certain it is a bug, it is better to file a report and let the team decide.
- Is 'bug report' used the same way in both US and UK English?
- Yes, 'bug report' is used identically in both US and UK English. The term is standardized across the software industry worldwide.
- What tools do companies use to manage bug reports?
- Common bug tracking systems include Jira, Azure DevOps, GitHub Issues, Bugzilla, and Linear. These tools allow teams to organize, prioritize, assign, and track the status of bug reports throughout the development cycle.
