an incorrect premise

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "an incorrect premise" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a foundational idea or assumption that is flawed or wrong in the context of an argument or reasoning. Example: "The conclusion drawn from the study is based on an incorrect premise, leading to misleading results."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The smoke-obsessed board of an Upper West Side co-op seems to be working from an incorrect premise.

The New York Times

But this, I think, works from an incorrect premise: that there is only one sort of child reader.

The Guardian - Books

Experts indeed acknowledge a "ground effect," which increases the wings' lift and thus makes flight somewhat more efficient near the surface; that was not an incorrect premise of Lindbergh's era.

The New York Times - Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

I received an e-mail reply in less than a day with the news that AreYouGame.com had found Mystery Date, but the price, $100, reminded me that this was one game with a cult following that also had a politically incorrect premise: the winner is the player who amasses the appropriate color-coordinated clothing and accessories before her boyfriend arrives to take her to the prom.

The New York Times - Tech

Particularly if the whole premise of the other person's argument is built on a fundamentally incorrect premise.

Vice

Janusz Marszalek, the developer, said the ministry had ordered the provincial governor, Ryszard Maslowski, to reconsider his decision blocking the project, saying it had been based on the incorrect premise that a snack bar, shops and a parking lot already on the camp site would remain.

The New York Times

The pioneering Greenwich Village frozen-food store, Penguin Food, was founded on the fatally incorrect premise that people would go to a separate store to buy the new wonder of frozen goods.

The New York Times

[The article below was written on the incorrect premise that Google is not able to link phone calls with Adwords. It already does, as we've covered in the past here and here. We regret the errors below, and we're working on follow-up posts.].

TechCrunch

Therefore, studies into the effect of lysine supplementation in cats have been based on the incorrect premise of its success in HHV-1 studies and clinical trials.

BMC Veterinary Research

If Pepper meant to say that Yale had to agree to the $8.5 million departure pay-out to keep Levin from leaving Yale, and it was necessary to the University's well-being for Levin to remain Yale's president for an additional decade, Pepper's justification is based on incorrect premises.

Huffington Post

A democracy cannot and should not go to war under false or incorrect premises".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "an incorrect premise", ensure that you clearly articulate the premise you are critiquing and provide evidence or reasoning to support your claim that it is incorrect.

Common error

Avoid vague statements about "an incorrect premise" without specifying exactly what that premise is. Clearly stating the premise ensures your argument is understandable and defensible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an incorrect premise" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It identifies a specific flaw in reasoning or argumentation, as Ludwig AI's examples demonstrate.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "an incorrect premise" is a noun phrase used to identify a flawed foundation in an argument or belief. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct, although relatively rare, with usage primarily in news and media, as well as scientific contexts. When employing this phrase, it is crucial to clearly specify the premise being critiqued and support the claim of its inaccuracy. Alternatives like "a false assumption" or "a flawed premise" offer similar semantic meaning, providing writers with options to refine their expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a false assumption

Replaces 'premise' with 'assumption', focusing on the idea of something taken for granted that is wrong.

a flawed premise

Substitutes 'incorrect' with 'flawed', indicating a defect in the foundation.

a mistaken assumption

Combines 'mistaken' and 'assumption' to emphasize the error in the foundation.

an erroneous belief

Replaces 'premise' with 'belief' to focus on the acceptance of something untrue.

a faulty assumption

Uses 'faulty' to indicate a weakness or defect in the assumption.

a wrong presupposition

Replaces 'premise' with 'presupposition', implying something assumed beforehand that is incorrect.

a baseless assumption

Highlights the lack of foundation or evidence for the assumption.

a fallacious assumption

Uses 'fallacious' to indicate a deceptive or misleading quality of the assumption.

an unfounded assertion

Shifts from 'premise' to 'assertion', indicating a claim without proper backing.

a deceptive foundation

Focuses on the misleading nature of the foundational element.

FAQs

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

You can use "an incorrect premise" to point out a flaw in an argument or a foundation for a belief, as in "The argument falls apart because it's based on "an incorrect premise"."

What are some alternatives to "an incorrect premise"?

Some alternatives include "a false assumption", "a flawed premise", or "a mistaken belief", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "incorrect premise" or "false premise"?

"Incorrect premise" and "false premise" are often interchangeable, but "false premise" may imply a deliberate deception, while "incorrect premise" suggests a simple error.

What's the difference between "an incorrect premise" and "a faulty assumption"?

While similar, "an incorrect premise" often refers to a foundational statement in an argument, while "a faulty assumption" may refer to any supposition that proves to be wrong.