[eluser]nevercraft[/eluser]
I usually do something like this:
Controller
Code:
$data['warning'] = "<p>The following errors occured:</p>\n" . $this->validation->error_string;
$this->load->view('myview', $data);
View
Code:
<?=@$warning ?>
The @ symbol keeps CI/PHP from generating an warning if $warning wasn't set (IE: when there aren't any errors). Its the same as your method really, it just makes the view's source a little more readable.