be pretty off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be pretty off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is significantly inaccurate or incorrect. Example: "His calculations were off, and the final result turned out to be pretty off from what we expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Even though the reality of schools nowadays is very different from the terrifying places they were with bullying and violence rife, as was vividly recorded at the time in Thomas Hughes Tom Brown's School Days and FW Farrer's Eric, or, Little by Little, most stories about school can be pretty off putting!

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And Newt can be pretty off-putting even when he's explaining that he loves his grandchildren.

The New York Times

Locals often spoke of the women in this way, as though they were a necessary commodity, and whatever their intentions, it could be pretty off-putting.

Vice

I was pretty off the rails back then.

Independent

"The uke in 1992 was pretty off the pop culture radar".

The New York Times

Oh god, not much, I was pretty off my rocker at that point.

The Guardian - Music

My initial impressions were pretty off.

TechCrunch

"This is pretty off the cuff," he admitted.

TechCrunch

I couldn't pick a favorite if I tried — though 12 is pretty off the chain.

TechCrunch

We wish teachers actually made as much as Kudlow thinks, but unfortunately he is pretty off.

Huffington Post

What is pretty off the wall is that this is (at my most conservative estimate) the 5th version of this record to be released in under a year.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone of your writing. "Be pretty off" is relatively informal, so it may not be suitable for highly formal or academic contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "be pretty off" in academic papers or formal reports. Opt for more precise and professional language like "significantly deviate", "be substantially different", or "be considerably inaccurate".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be pretty off" functions as a modifier, indicating the degree to which something is inaccurate or incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Examples show it modifying calculations, impressions, and estimates.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be pretty off" is a common expression used to indicate a moderate level of inaccuracy or incorrectness. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts and carries a neutral to informal tone. While grammatically sound, it is advisable to use more formal alternatives like "significantly deviate" or "be substantially different" in academic or professional writing. The related phrases offer a spectrum of options to express similar meanings with varying degrees of emphasis. Therefore, when using "be pretty off", consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing to ensure clarity and appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be quite wrong

Replaces "pretty" with "quite", indicating a similar degree of inaccuracy but with a slightly more formal tone.

be rather incorrect

Substitutes "pretty off" with "rather incorrect", conveying a more explicit sense of inaccuracy.

be fairly inaccurate

Uses "fairly inaccurate" instead of "pretty off", suggesting a moderate level of imprecision.

be considerably off

Emphasizes the extent of deviation from the correct value or expectation.

be significantly mistaken

Highlights the error in judgment or understanding, rather than just a numerical deviation.

be widely divergent

Indicates a large difference or discrepancy, often used in more technical contexts.

be a long way off

Emphasizes the distance from a target or correct value, adding a sense of informality.

be substantially different

Highlights a significant dissimilarity, suitable for formal or technical contexts.

be way off base

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate a complete misjudgment or misunderstanding.

be far from the truth

Indicates a deviation from reality or accurate information.

FAQs

How can I use "be pretty off" in a sentence?

You can use "be pretty off" to indicate that something is significantly inaccurate or incorrect. For example: "His calculations "were pretty off", and the final result was far from what we expected."

What can I say instead of "be pretty off"?

You can use alternatives such as "be quite wrong", "be rather incorrect", or "be fairly inaccurate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "be pretty off" or "be very off"?

Both "be pretty off" and "be very off" are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different degrees of intensity. "Be very off" suggests a higher degree of inaccuracy compared to "be pretty off".

What's the difference between "be pretty off" and "be way off base"?

"Be pretty off" generally refers to numerical or factual inaccuracies, while "be way off base" is an idiomatic expression that suggests a complete misjudgment or misunderstanding.