an incorrect understanding

USAGE SUMMARY

'an incorrect understanding' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a lack of knowledge or a belief that is untrue or incorrect. For example: "John had an incorrect understanding of the law, which led to his being fined for breaking the law."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

It should not be made more difficult by an incorrect understanding of its scope and characteristics.

Harvard Business Review

But the IFS said last night that "our modelling was based on an incorrect understanding of the government's proposals".

The Guardian

Before this semester, I had an incorrect understanding of what oral history was because I had often associated oral histories with storytelling.

Columbia University

The problem is no longer an incorrect understanding of the cause: around the world, people have known for more than a century what you have to do to prevent cholera.

The New Yorker

Although my own organisation, Quilliam, has itself received Prevent funding, I would nonetheless argue that such objections are based on an incorrect understanding of secularism – and of what Prevent actually does.

The Guardian - Opinion

Your desire to display the success of gay people everywhere by appropriating an incorrect understanding of Thailand's queer folk therefore seems rather lazy.Wei Khai Singapore SIR – Thank you for the very accurate, well-written and sensitively documented article.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

As it turns out, people would rather have a complete but incorrect understanding of the world than an incomplete but more correct understanding.

The Guardian

This practice seems mainly based on historical beliefs and an incomplete or incorrect understanding of the pathophysiology of sepsis.

Annals of Intensive Care

The current acceptance of the therapy is based in part on long history and familiarity with its use in the resuscitation of other forms of shock, as well as on an incomplete and incorrect understanding of the pathophysiology of sepsis.

Annals of Intensive Care

These difficulties are a consequence of the lack of standardization and the incorrect understanding of the exergy transformation inside the process or unit operation.

Computer Aided Chemical Engineering

The data analysis revealed several problems, such as an insufficient number of measurement gauges, improper installation of gauges, and incorrect understanding of the angular distortion during data interpretation.

Measurement

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "an incorrect understanding", ensure the context clearly specifies what the correct understanding should be, or the consequences of the misunderstanding.

Common error

Avoid using intensifiers like "completely" or "totally" with "an incorrect understanding" unless absolutely necessary. The phrase itself implies a lack of correctness, and overemphasis can sound redundant or overly critical.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "an incorrect understanding" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It describes a state of having a flawed or inaccurate comprehension of something. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

36%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "an incorrect understanding" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that serves to denote a flawed or inaccurate comprehension of a subject. Ludwig AI confirms its usability across varied contexts. Its function is primarily to pinpoint and address errors in understanding, and its register is generally neutral. While it appears most frequently in news media and scientific publications, its versatility makes it suitable for various other settings. When using this phrase, it is advisable to provide context regarding the accurate understanding and the implications of the mistaken one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a misunderstanding

A more general term, denoting a failure to understand correctly.

a flawed understanding

Replaces "incorrect" with "flawed", emphasizing the presence of defects in the understanding.

a misinterpretation

Conveys the idea of wrongly interpreting information, leading to an incorrect conclusion.

a mistaken comprehension

Substitutes "understanding" with "comprehension" and "incorrect" with "mistaken", highlighting an error in grasping something.

a faulty interpretation

Similar to misinterpretation, but emphasizes the defectiveness of the interpretive process.

an inaccurate grasp

Uses "grasp" instead of "understanding", implying a failure to properly seize or hold knowledge correctly.

an erroneous belief

Shifts the focus from understanding to the resulting (incorrect) belief.

a false impression

Replaces the entire phrase focusing on the deceptive nature of the initial perception.

a distorted perception

Highlights how the original understanding has been twisted or warped from the truth.

a skewed perspective

Highlights the bias or slant affecting the understanding.

FAQs

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

You can use "an incorrect understanding" to describe a situation where someone's comprehension of a topic or concept is wrong. For example, "His decision was based on "an incorrect understanding" of the company's finances."

What's a good substitute for "an incorrect understanding"?

Alternatives include "a flawed understanding", "a misunderstanding", or "a faulty interpretation", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "incorrect understanding" formal or informal?

"Incorrect understanding" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure.

What's the difference between "an incorrect understanding" and "a misunderstanding"?

While similar, ""a misunderstanding"" often implies a simple failure to grasp something, whereas "an incorrect understanding" suggests an active, but flawed, interpretation.