far from the mark

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "far from the mark" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to express that something is incorrect or inaccurate. Here is an example: "Despite all of my studying, my answers on the exam were far from the mark." In this sentence, "far from the mark" means that the answers were not accurate or correct. Other examples of using this phrase could include: - "Her assumptions about the situation were far from the mark." - "You may think you know the truth, but you are far from the mark." - "The company's projected profits were far from the mark due to unexpected expenses."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

The food fell far from the mark.

The New York Times

But it's still pretty far from the mark.

The New York Times

But Ms. Iscovitz is not far from the mark.

The New York Times

But calling her skeptical isn't far from the mark.

The New York Times

And not far from the mark, I think.

The Guardian - Film

Rarely has an interim verdict on work-in-progress been so far from the mark.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

In Experiment 2, 10 participants were required to reach for, grasp, and lift two objects that were positioned either near (50 mm) the start mark, far (maximum comfortable reaching distance) from the start mark, or one near and one far from the start mark.

Human Movement Science

We're a British band, it's not that complicated, but you've got you've got to do it properly or else you fall very far away from the mark.

Huffington Post

The company whose stock hadn't strayed far from the $4 mark for most of this year and had been mired in scandal surrounding its chief executive officer–is now up 700% for the year.

Forbes

While Romney's numbers vary across individual polls, our combined estimate of his support has never strayed far from the 20percentt mark.

Huffington Post

It was a welcome relief when one of Sydney's finest techno DJs delivered 90 minutes of dark, deep and powerful techno that was refreshingly fast on a day where the BPM didn't stray to far from the 120 mark.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "far from the mark" when you want to politely but firmly indicate that an estimate, guess, or assessment is significantly incorrect. It's less harsh than saying someone is "wrong."

Common error

Avoid using "far from the mark" when the difference is relatively small. It is better suited for substantial discrepancies, not minor deviations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "far from the mark" functions as a prepositional phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun, indicating that something is inaccurate or incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, it's often used to express that something is not accurate or correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "far from the mark" is a common prepositional phrase used to indicate that something is inaccurate or incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. It's suitable for various contexts, particularly news and media, and functions to express disagreement or correct misunderstandings. While its register is generally neutral, it's best used when the discrepancy is substantial. Consider using alternatives like "completely inaccurate" or "way off" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely inaccurate

Highlights the total lack of correctness.

way off

A simpler and more direct way of saying something is incorrect

not even close

Underscores the lack of proximity to accuracy.

nowhere near correct

Stresses the significant distance from the right answer or assessment.

entirely mistaken

Focuses on the complete error in understanding or perception.

wide of the truth

Emphasizes the divergence from factual accuracy.

a long way off

Indicates a considerable degree of error or misjudgment.

off base

Similar to "in the wrong ballpark", but slightly more informal.

in the wrong ballpark

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey being significantly off-target.

beside the point

Shifts the emphasis to irrelevance rather than inaccuracy.

FAQs

How can I use "far from the mark" in a sentence?

You can use "far from the mark" to indicate that something is inaccurate or incorrect. For example, "His estimate of the project's cost was "far from the mark"".

What's an alternative to saying "far from the mark"?

Alternatives include "completely inaccurate", "way off", or "nowhere near correct" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "far from the mark" or "close to the mark"?

It depends on the situation. "Far from the mark" indicates inaccuracy, while "close to the mark" suggests accuracy. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the situation.

When should I use "wide of the truth" instead of "far from the mark"?

Use "wide of the truth" when you want to emphasize that something deviates significantly from factual accuracy. "Far from the mark" is more general.