essentially inaccurate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "essentially inaccurate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is fundamentally or mostly incorrect, even if there are some minor truths or accurate elements present. Example: "While the report contained some valid points, it was essentially inaccurate in its overall conclusions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Our initial view was that the use of the term "translational" to describe this area of biomedical research is misleading, as the word carries many connotations, and is essentially inaccurate.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

White House press aides learned blandly to insist that Reagan's misstatements, if technically inaccurate, were essentially true.

The New Yorker

This is because diagnosis of growth faltering in utero, although much facilitated in recent decades through ultrasonographic means, remains inaccurate and essentially unavailable at the population level [ 63- 65].

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

There are essentially three reasons that a poll might provide an inaccurate forecast of an upcoming election.

The New York Times

Apple said incentivized app downloads were driving inaccurate rankings in the App Store, almost certainly because essentially paying consumers to download apps was a way of gaming a ranking system that used downloads as a key metric.

TechCrunch

Inaccurate measurement and reporting for two full years (essentially since the launch of Facebook video) is clearly of concern for Facebook advertisers especially in the absence of other forms of 3rd-party measurement.

Huffington Post

If the underlying deficit is essentially related to basic cognitive deficits, one would expect fast and inaccurate responding in children with ADHD when no specific instruction is given, due to deficient inhibitory control, inadequate timing and working memory deficits.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

The report said Mrs. Clinton's testimony was "factually inaccurate" when she said her role in bringing Madison Guaranty to the firm was essentially to see that Mr. McDougal first pay an outstanding bill.

The New York Times

Completely inaccurate".

The New York Times

Inaccurate shooting.

The Guardian - Sport

And inaccurate.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "essentially inaccurate", ensure that you can provide evidence or reasoning to support why the subject is fundamentally flawed, even if it contains some elements of truth.

Common error

Avoid using "essentially inaccurate" if the subject contains only minor inaccuracies. This phrase suggests a fundamental flaw, so ensure the error is significant and not just a matter of detail.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "essentially inaccurate" functions as a compound adjective. It modifies a noun by describing the extent and nature of its inaccuracy. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase suggests a fundamental or primary flaw in something that may appear correct on the surface. This contrasts with merely superficial or minor inaccuracies.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "essentially inaccurate" describes something that is fundamentally wrong. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically sound phrase used to convey that, despite potential superficial correctness, the core or basis is flawed. While used across diverse contexts like science and media, its frequency is relatively rare. When using it, ensure the inaccuracy you're describing is truly fundamental and not merely a matter of detail. Alternative phrases include "fundamentally incorrect" and "largely incorrect".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fundamentally incorrect

Focuses on the core error, suggesting the base is wrong.

largely incorrect

Emphasizes the extent of inaccuracy being substantial.

basically untrue

Highlights the lack of truth as a basic feature.

mostly false

Indicates the predominant part is not factual.

primarily flawed

Points out the main issue resides in a defect or fault.

substantially off

Suggests a significant deviation from accuracy.

inherently wrong

Indicates an error is ingrained in the subject.

materially misleading

Highlights how the inaccuracy causes misinterpretation.

wrong in essence

Concentrates on the fundamental error.

effectively invalid

Refers to the lack of validity in practice.

FAQs

What does "essentially inaccurate" mean?

The phrase "essentially inaccurate" describes something that is mainly or fundamentally incorrect, even if it may contain some elements of truth or accuracy.

How can I use "essentially inaccurate" in a sentence?

You might say, "While the report had some valid points, it was "essentially inaccurate" in its overall conclusions."

What are some alternatives to saying "essentially inaccurate"?

You can use alternatives like "fundamentally incorrect", "largely incorrect", or "mostly false" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "essentially inaccurate" vs. "slightly inaccurate"?

"Essentially inaccurate" is suitable when the core or main part is wrong, while "slightly inaccurate" is better when there are only minor errors.