beside the mark

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "beside the mark" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something is not accurate or is off-target, often in a figurative sense. Example: "His assessment of the situation was beside the mark, failing to consider the key factors involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Red line means the tracked lane marking, and warning time is tagged beside the marked lane.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

The warning time is tagged beside the marked lane; if it exceeds the previously established threshold, the alarm will be triggered.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Besides, the marks of Chinese language test would be increased from 120 to 150 in NSHSEE, and from 150 to 180 in NCEE; while the marks of Mathematics would remain the same as before.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

Besides training the Mark 1 to churn out billets-doux, he also taught it to play checkers ("draughts," in British parlance).

The New Yorker

Besides missing the mark on the environment, the higher costs of FSC are not trivial - raising, by some estimates, consumer costs in the range of 15 to 20percentt.

Huffington Post

The humour of the form lies in its purposefully flat-footed inadequacy: in addition to clumsy rhythm and rhyme, the verse's treatment of the subject is either off the mark or totally beside the point, as though it were the work of a reluctant schoolchild.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Andy's old self would have been mortified, but she only put the sherry carefully back on the table and folded her hands in her lap again, while Mum knelt beside her, blotting the mark out of her skirt with a tea towel.

The New Yorker

Besides completely missing the mark on their stated intentions, the people who produced this video lost the opportunity to model how acceptance and inclusion can look.

Huffington Post

The bold lines beside the sections mark the intervals containing SSDs.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

Besides, the pass mark for many matric subjects is a mere 30%.Teachers in black state schools work an average of 3.5 hours a day, compared with 6.5 hours in the former white state schools known as "Model C".

The Economist

"Besides the obvious marking of dates like birth years and anniversaries, the simple act of reading the year on the bottle may take your mind somewhere else".

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "beside the mark" when you want to convey that an idea, argument, or action is not relevant or accurate in a given context.

Common error

Avoid using "beside the mark" when you mean "besides the point". The former indicates irrelevance or inaccuracy, while the latter suggests something is not the main issue but related to it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "beside the mark" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or verb, indicating that something is irrelevant, inappropriate, or inaccurate. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "beside the mark" is a prepositional phrase indicating irrelevance or inaccuracy. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While no direct examples were found, its function is to express that something is not pertinent to the current context. Alternatives include "off target" and "irrelevant". Use it to steer discussions and analyses effectively, being mindful of potential confusion with similar phrases like "besides the point".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

off target

This alternative phrase directly implies that something is inaccurate or not aligned with the intended goal.

wide of the mark

Similar to "off target", this phrase emphasizes the degree of deviation from the correct or accurate point.

missing the point

This alternative indicates a failure to understand the crucial aspect of a topic or situation.

inaccurate

Highlights the incorrectness or lack of truthfulness in a statement or assessment.

irrelevant

This term points out that the statement or information has no bearing or importance to the current subject matter.

not pertinent

This phrase stresses that something is not relevant or applicable to the matter at hand.

unrelated

This suggests a lack of connection or relevance between two or more subjects.

far from the truth

Emphasizes the large discrepancy between a statement and reality.

unconnected

Similar to unrelated, but may suggest a stronger sense of detachment or disassociation.

a moot point

This indicates that a topic is not worth discussing as it is irrelevant or has no practical effect.

FAQs

How can I use "beside the mark" in a sentence?

You can use "beside the mark" to indicate that something is irrelevant or inaccurate. For example: "His comment about the weather was "beside the mark" in a discussion about economics."

What's a good alternative to "beside the mark"?

Alternatives include "off target", "irrelevant", or "inaccurate", depending on the specific context.

Is "beside the mark" the same as "off the mark"?

"Beside the mark" and "off the mark" are very similar in meaning, both indicating something is inaccurate or not relevant. The choice often comes down to personal preference.

How formal is the phrase "beside the mark"?

The phrase "beside the mark" is relatively neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though it may be more common in writing than in casual speech.