frightfully wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "frightfully wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is extremely incorrect or erroneous, often with an emotional or dramatic emphasis. Example: "The calculations were frightfully wrong, leading to significant errors in the final report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Mr. Wright has been frightfully wrong on many topics, but he was right on poverty, civil rights and compassion for AIDS victims.

The New York Times

The specious religious justification is so frightfully wrong that it tends to render mere mortals speechless, and now, it seems to have momentarily confused the highly popular Pope Francis.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I make you frightfully uncomfortable and stir you up the wrong way the whole time, and yet you adore me madly".

The Guardian - Books

There's something frightfully frightfully about Edgbaston.

The Guardian - Money

One frightfully clever, the other frightfully decent.

The Guardian

"I'm frightfully lucky".

The New York Times

Yes, frightfully clever.

The Guardian - Books

I'm frightfully sorry.

The Guardian - Books

The day began frightfully.

The New York Times

Relaxed, interested and frightfully British.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That will sound frightfully arrogant".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "frightfully wrong" to add a touch of dramatic emphasis when describing a significant error. This phrasing works well in opinion pieces or narrative contexts where a stronger emotional tone is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "frightfully wrong" in highly formal or technical writing. This phrase can sound overly dramatic or informal in contexts that require a neutral, objective tone. Opt for more straightforward alternatives like "severely incorrect" or "significantly flawed" in those situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "frightfully wrong" functions as an intensifier (frightfully) modifying an adjective (wrong). It amplifies the degree to which something is incorrect. Ludwig's examples show its use in conveying strong disagreement or describing significant errors.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "frightfully wrong" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express a strong degree of incorrectness. As indicated by Ludwig, it functions as an intensifier modifying an adjective and is most commonly found in News & Media contexts. While acceptable, it may be too informal for academic or highly technical writing. Consider alternatives like "terribly incorrect" or "severely flawed" for more formal settings. The phrase's intent is to emphasize not just the presence of an error, but its magnitude or severity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

terribly incorrect

Replaces "frightfully" with "terribly", maintaining a similar level of intensity in describing the incorrectness.

horribly wrong

Substitutes "frightfully" with "horribly", emphasizing the negative aspect of being wrong.

dreadfully mistaken

Replaces both words with synonyms that keep a formal tone and similar sense of severity.

severely flawed

Focuses on the degree of the flaw instead of directly stating 'wrong', thus altering the focus slightly.

egregiously incorrect

Uses a more formal and emphatic adjective to describe the incorrectness.

woefully inaccurate

Highlights the deficiency in accuracy rather than a general sense of being wrong.

spectacularly wrong

Emphasizes the magnitude or impressiveness of the error, adding a touch of irony or exaggeration.

catastrophically mistaken

Indicates that the mistake has disastrous consequences or implications.

ludicrously false

Implies that the incorrectness is absurd or ridiculous.

completely erroneous

Focuses on the factual inaccuracy, using a formal term to indicate a total lack of correctness.

FAQs

How can I use "frightfully wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "frightfully wrong" to emphasize the magnitude of an error or mistake. For example, "The initial calculations were "frightfully wrong", leading to a complete project overhaul."

What are some alternatives to "frightfully wrong"?

Alternatives to "frightfully wrong" include "terribly incorrect", "horribly wrong", or "severely flawed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "frightfully wrong" too informal for academic writing?

While "frightfully wrong" is generally understandable, it may be perceived as too informal or dramatic for most academic writing. Consider using more neutral terms like "significantly inaccurate" or "substantially incorrect" in academic contexts.

What is the difference between "frightfully wrong" and "slightly off"?

"Frightfully wrong" suggests a major error with significant consequences, whereas "slightly off" indicates a minor deviation from what is correct. The choice depends on the scale and impact of the inaccuracy you are describing.