he was misled

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was misled" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone was given false information or directed in a wrong way, leading to confusion or misunderstanding. Example: "After reviewing the evidence, it became clear that he was misled by the misleading statements of his colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

"I think he was misled.

The New York Times

He was misled by senior players".

The Guardian - Sport

He said then that he was misled and manipulated, though he did not elaborate.

The New York Times - Sports

We can appreciate Mr. Kerry's complaints that he was misled on both counts.

The New York Times

Laura Pitel (@laurapitel) Steel drummer at Ukip carnival says he was misled about the event.

The Guardian

The boy's father told Congress he was misled about the risks.

The New York Times

Johnson lost millions of dollars annually. "He was misled," Felix Sabates, another minority owner, said of Johnson.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr Penner personally signed his passport picture and application form, but says he was misled through an identity fraud.

The Economist

E1 BUSINESS DAY C1-8 Perle Says He Was Misled Richard N. Perle, once a defender of Conrad Black on the board of Hollinger International, now says he was misled by his friend and business colleague.

The New York Times

If the batsman suspected an inside edge then he was misled by the sequence of noise and touch.

The Guardian - Sport

Why he turned down a golden opportunity to claim rightly that he was misled is a mystery.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was misled", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what caused the misleading and, if relevant, the consequences of this misinformation. Provide specific details to strengthen your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "he was misled" without specifying who or what misled him. Vague attribution weakens the statement and can lead to confusion. Instead of saying "he was misled", specify "he was misled by the inaccurate report".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was misled" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received false or inaccurate information, leading to a misunderstanding or incorrect action. As evidenced by Ludwig, this phrase is widely used in various contexts to convey that someone was given wrong information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was misled" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that indicates someone received false or inaccurate information. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is suitable for neutral contexts. When using this phrase, consider specifying the source and nature of the misleading information to avoid vagueness. Alternative phrases like "he was deceived" or "he was misinformed" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. The phrase is widely used in News & Media, where the attribution of responsibility is highly important.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was deceived

Focuses on the act of intentionally causing someone to believe something that is not true.

he was deceived

Similar to misled but suggests a more intentional act of deception.

he was hoodwinked

Implies a clever trick or deception.

he was tricked

Suggests a cunning or deceitful act.

he was duped

Similar to tricked but often implies naivety on the part of the person being deceived.

he was taken advantage of

Highlights the exploitation of someone's trust or vulnerability.

he was misinformed

Indicates that he received incorrect information, though not necessarily intentionally.

he was given false information

Directly states the act of providing incorrect details.

he got the wrong end of the stick

An idiomatic expression suggesting a misunderstanding due to misinterpretation.

he drew a wrong conclusion

Specifies a reasoning error based on incorrect information.

FAQs

How can I use "he was misled" in a sentence?

You can use "he was misled" to indicate that someone received false information or was directed in a wrong way. For example, "The investigation revealed that he was misled by his advisors".

What's a more formal alternative to "he was misled"?

More formal alternatives include "he was deceived" or "he was given incorrect information".

Is it better to say "he was misled" or "he misled"?

The choice depends on the context. "He was misled" indicates someone was the recipient of misinformation. "He misled" means someone actively provided false information.

What is the difference between "he was misled" and "he was mistaken"?

"He was misled" implies someone provided incorrect information to him. "He was mistaken" suggests he made an error in his own judgment or understanding.