grammatically incorrect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "grammatically incorrect" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The email was grammatically incorrect, making it difficult to understand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This ability is reflected in a grammatical learning effect in the form of a more positive going wave for grammatically incorrect compared to grammatically correct dependency relations.

Plosone

The Lonely Island's new (and grammatically incorrect) semicolon rap.

The New Yorker

Apart from being grammatically incorrect, this version messes up the rhythm.

The Guardian

They wrote their answers, often in grammatically incorrect Arabic, on their own images (Slide 7).

The New York Times

They shouldn't feel too bad: "laissez les bon temps rouler" is also grammatically incorrect.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, confusion regarding this difference has led to the use of the grammatically incorrect term "in operando" in recent literature.

Catalysis Today

Muddling up your tenses is not only grammatically incorrect, it also makes writing confusing and hard to follow.

The Guardian

"We have a lot of English professors who go along with that, even though it's grammatically incorrect," Marchinkoski said.

The New York Times - Sports

Knowing by now that Sharon's favorite grammatically incorrect word, "funner," was synonymous for "harder," no one said a thing.

The New York Times - Travel

YouTube, which is owned by Google, has long been home to some of the Internet's most juvenile and grammatically incorrect comments.

The Washington Post

A number of readers have complained, mostly politely, that the penultimate sentence in the Comment we've been discussing is grammatically incorrect.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing specific errors, be precise by specifying which grammatical rule is violated rather than simply labeling something as "grammatically incorrect".

Common error

Avoid using "grammatically incorrect" as a blanket term for all writing errors; differentiate between grammatical errors, stylistic issues, and factual inaccuracies.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "grammatically incorrect" functions primarily as an adjective phrase. It is used to describe something that violates the rules of grammar. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in describing errors in language. The phrase is simple and clearly communicates an error related to grammar.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

18%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "grammatically incorrect" is a commonly used adjective phrase to describe something that violates the rules of grammar. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and suitable for use in written English. With a neutral register, it appears in various contexts, from formal news articles to informal online discussions. Its function is primarily descriptive, aiming to identify and categorize language that deviates from established grammatical norms. While it's a widely understood term, remember to be precise when describing grammatical errors, specifying the exact rule violated rather than overgeneralizing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ungrammatical

Single word alternative that maintains the core meaning, but may sound more formal.

grammatical error

Shifts from adjective to noun phrase, focusing on the existence of an error.

syntactically flawed

Replaces "grammatically" with "syntactically", referring specifically to sentence structure, and replaces incorrect with flawed.

not grammatically sound

Emphasizes the lack of grammatical correctness using a different phrasing.

violates grammatical rules

Focuses on the action of breaking rules rather than the state of being incorrect.

erroneous grammar

Replaces "incorrect" with "erroneous", adding a slightly more formal tone.

improper grammar

Uses "improper" instead of "incorrect", suggesting a lack of adherence to standards.

substandard grammar

Indicates that the grammar is below the expected or required level.

poorly constructed grammar

Highlights the construction quality of the grammar, implying it's not well-formed.

linguistically inaccurate

Broadens the scope from grammar to linguistics, indicating a general lack of accuracy in language use.

FAQs

How to use "grammatically incorrect" in a sentence?

You can use "grammatically incorrect" to describe sentences, phrases, or even entire documents. For example, "The student's essay contained several sentences that were "grammatically incorrect"."

What can I say instead of "grammatically incorrect"?

You can use alternatives like "ungrammatical", "grammatical error", or "syntactically flawed" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "grammatically incorrect" or "grammatical incorrect"?

"Grammatically incorrect" is the correct form. "Grammatical incorrect" is itself "grammatically incorrect".

What's the difference between "grammatically incorrect" and "stylistically inappropriate"?

"Grammatically incorrect" refers to violations of grammar rules, while "stylistically inappropriate" indicates that the writing doesn't suit the context or audience, even if it's grammatically sound. A sentence can be "grammatically incorrect" and stylistically appropriate or vice versa.