categorically incorrect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "categorically incorrect" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to emphasize that something is completely and unequivocally wrong or mistaken. Example: The statement made by the politician was categorically incorrect and had no basis in fact.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"It is absolutely, categorically incorrect that we owe Ken Bates money," Haigh said.

The Guardian - Sport

Our paper which appeared in Science in 2006 showed that the prevailing view, at least as far as vegetative patients are concerned, is categorically incorrect.

The Guardian

He said the allegations against the men were "categorically incorrect and false", adding: "As we have learned from biggest democracies in the world that respecting the law of [the] state is duty [of] all members of the community … The United Arab Emirates is a country of law, and we confirm the principal of the rule of law".

The Guardian

"At least somewhere between 10 and 15percentt of the time, that data is categorically incorrect," he says.

TechCrunch

"That's categorically incorrect," he said.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

And that is categorically wrong.

The Guardian - Sport

"The story is categorically wrong.

Huffington Post

They state categorically: "this information is incorrect".

Huffington Post

"We wish to categorically state that the quoted amount of $21 per hour is incorrect and was never agreed to with anyone," the statement posted to Twitter states.

Vice

"Categorically not.

The Guardian

Categorically no".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "categorically incorrect" to firmly and clearly deny the validity of a statement or piece of information. This phrase adds emphasis and leaves no room for ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "categorically incorrect" in casual conversations or informal writing. It's a strong phrase best reserved for situations where a formal or serious tone is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "categorically incorrect" functions as an adverb-adjective combination used to emphatically deny or refute the accuracy of a statement. As shown by Ludwig, it serves to strongly emphasize the incorrectness, leaving no room for doubt.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "categorically incorrect" is a phrase used to express strong disagreement, affirming the incorrectness of a statement without a doubt. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically sound. While not overly common, with a frequency rating of rare, it is primarily used in news and media contexts to emphasize disagreement or denial. Alternatives include "absolutely incorrect" or "completely wrong". It's best used in situations where a formal tone is appropriate, avoiding overuse in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absolutely incorrect

Replaces "categorically" with "absolutely", emphasizing the incorrectness.

categorically false

Focuses on the falsity of the information, replacing "incorrect" with "false".

unequivocally wrong

Uses "unequivocally" to emphasize the lack of doubt about the incorrectness.

definitively incorrect

Emphasizes that the incorrectness has been definitively established.

completely wrong

Simplifies the phrase while retaining a strong sense of inaccuracy.

indisputably incorrect

Highlights that the statement's incorrectness cannot be argued.

utterly false

Shifts focus to the falsity of the statement, using "utterly" for emphasis.

flatly untrue

Uses "flatly" to indicate a direct and forceful denial of the statement's truth.

patently untrue

Emphasizes the obvious nature of the incorrectness.

demonstrably false

Highlights that the statement's incorrectness can be proven.

FAQs

How can I use "categorically incorrect" in a sentence?

You can use "categorically incorrect" to strongly deny a statement. For example: "The report's findings are "categorically incorrect" and based on flawed data".

What is a less formal alternative to "categorically incorrect"?

If you want to express strong disagreement in a less formal way, consider using phrases like "completely wrong", "totally off", or "absolutely not right".

Is "categorically incorrect" stronger than just saying "incorrect"?

Yes, "categorically incorrect" is much stronger. The word "categorically" adds emphasis, indicating that there is no doubt or question about the statement being wrong.

Are there situations where "categorically incorrect" might be too strong?

Yes, using "categorically incorrect" may be perceived as overly aggressive or confrontational in situations where a more nuanced or diplomatic response is appropriate. Choose your words carefully.