an incorrect figure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an incorrect figure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a numerical value or representation that is not accurate or valid. Example: "The report contained an incorrect figure that misrepresented the company's profits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

An earlier version gave an incorrect figure for periods of strike action.

The Guardian

An earlier version of this article gave an incorrect figure.

The Washington Post

An early version of this article gave an incorrect figure for the number of reports covering the years of war in Afghanistan.

The New York Times

An earlier version of this article included an incorrect figure for the spending proposed on border security under a bipartisan immigration deal.

The New York Times

Correction: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect figure for the percentage of IRS hires who were previously employed by the agency.

The Washington Post

Corrections: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect figure for the lead in an internal poll released by Elissa Silverman.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Editor's note: The Ford GT500 horsepower figure has been updated from an earlier, incorrect figure.

Forbes

Editor's note: The $169 billion figure in the first paragraph of this story has been corrected from an earlier, incorrect figure.

Forbes

An earlier version of this chart included an incorrect endowment figure for Bates College, because the figure was incorrect in the Department of Education's database.

The New York Times

An earlier version referred to 971 academy trusts where it should have said 976; the incorrect figure came from a National Audit Office statement, the wrong version of which was sent to us.

The Guardian

Of course, perhaps the president just took State Department estimate of the construction jobs and divided it in half, to come up with an (incorrect) yearly figure.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "an incorrect figure" when the inaccuracy is unintentional. If there is evidence of deliberate misrepresentation, consider stronger terms like "deceptive" or "fraudulent".

Common error

Avoid using "an incorrect figure" when you mean a preliminary or approximate value. A rough estimate acknowledges uncertainty, while "an incorrect figure" implies a definitive but wrong number.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an incorrect figure" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "incorrect" modifies "figure". It refers to a specific piece of data that is factually wrong. Ludwig examples show it being used to point out errors in reports, articles, and calculations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an incorrect figure" is a common and grammatically correct way to refer to a numerical value or statistic that is inaccurate. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is most frequently encountered in news and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that you are referring to a definitive error rather than a preliminary estimate. Alternatives include "a wrong number" or "an inaccurate statistic". Always provide the correct information when pointing out "an incorrect figure".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a wrong number

Focuses on the numerical inaccuracy, implying a simple mistake.

an inaccurate statistic

Highlights the inaccuracy in a statistical context.

a false calculation

Emphasizes the flawed process leading to the incorrect figure.

a misleading statistic

Focuses on the potential to deceive or misrepresent information.

an erroneous value

A more formal way of stating that a value is incorrect.

a flawed data point

Highlights the imperfection in a piece of data.

a misrepresented number

Suggests that the number was presented inaccurately, possibly intentionally.

a distorted figure

Implies that the figure has been altered to give a false impression.

a spurious number

Suggests the number is not genuine or valid.

a fallacious value

Indicates that the value is based on a mistaken belief or unsound argument.

FAQs

How can I use "an incorrect figure" in a sentence?

You can use "an incorrect figure" to describe a number or statistic that is not accurate. For example: "The report originally cited "an incorrect figure" for the company's revenue, which has now been corrected."

What's the difference between "an incorrect figure" and "an inaccurate figure"?

While the terms are very similar, "incorrect" suggests a factual error, whereas "inaccurate" can imply a lack of precision. You might use "an incorrect figure" when a calculation is wrong, and "an inaccurate figure" when a measurement is slightly off. You can also consider "a wrong number" as alternative.

What are some alternatives to using the phrase "an incorrect figure"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "a false calculation", "a misleading statistic", or "an erroneous value" to convey the same meaning.

Is it better to say "incorrect figure" or "wrong figure"?

"Incorrect figure" is generally preferred in formal writing and professional contexts. "Wrong figure" is acceptable in informal settings but might lack the precision needed for technical or analytical discussions.