in the wrong office

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in the wrong office" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone who has mistakenly entered or is located in an office that is not theirs or not the appropriate one for their purpose. Example: "I walked into the wrong office and realized I needed to be two floors up for my meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"You're in the wrong office".

The Guardian - Books

If you're a consumer-facing company and the firm you're pitching is known for enterprise SaaS investments, you're in the wrong office.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

But she sent the notice to the wrong office in the Burlington federal courthouse and missed her filing deadline by days.

The New York Times

Maybe we get a better price on a car or maybe we don't wait in a long line at the wrong office because we didn't know where to go".

The New York Times - Tech

In 2009, 2.3 million contacts to the Department for Work and Pensions were driven by people contacting the wrong agency and 1.4 million by people contacting the wrong office, it said.

BBC

Mother was in the post office exchanging money, and signed all her traveller's checks in the wrong place.

The New Yorker

In the wrong place.

The New York Times - Books

I was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

BMC Palliative Care

Begins to think he is in wrong office.

The New Yorker

The soldiers are respectful, offering directions, but they will intervene the moment a camera is turned in the wrong direction: toward the presidential office downhill.

The New York Times - Travel

He added that "our military was very depleted; it was going in the wrong direction" before he took office.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in the wrong office" to clearly and directly convey that someone is in an incorrect or unintended location. For example, provide clarifying information after the phrase to ensure the context is clear: "You're in the wrong office; the accounting department is on the third floor."

Common error

Avoid using "in the wrong office" when you mean someone is working at the wrong company or has the wrong job. Use "in the wrong job" or "at the wrong company" instead to provide a more accurate description of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in the wrong office" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, often indicating a state of being or location. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in the wrong office" is a prepositional phrase used to indicate that someone is in an incorrect location. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and usability across various contexts, primarily in news and media, science, and wiki sources. While not exceedingly common, the phrase effectively communicates a locational error. To avoid confusion, ensure the context clarifies that it refers to a physical location, distinguishing it from similar phrases like "in the wrong job", which pertains to professional suitability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

at the incorrect office

Replaces "wrong" with "incorrect", maintaining the same meaning but with a slightly more formal tone.

in the mistaken office

Substitutes "wrong" with "mistaken", emphasizing the error in being at that location.

at the unintended office

Replaces "wrong" with "unintended", highlighting that the office was not the intended destination.

in the incorrect department

Changes "office" to "department", broadening the context to a division within an organization.

at the wrong location

Replaces "office" with "location", making the phrase more general and applicable to any place.

in the wrong place

Generalizes the phrase to any incorrect location, not specifically an office.

misdirected to this office

Shifts the focus to being misdirected, rather than simply being in the wrong place.

at the unsuitable office

Replaces "wrong" with "unsuitable", suggesting the office is not appropriate for the person's needs.

in the inappropriate office

Replaces "wrong" with "inappropriate", indicating the office is not a suitable place for the person.

mistakenly in this office

Emphasizes the mistaken nature of being in the office, rather than the office itself being wrong.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "in the wrong office"?

You can use alternatives such as "at the incorrect office", "in the mistaken office", or "at the wrong location". These alternatives provide similar meanings while varying the wording for different contexts.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "in the wrong office"?

It is appropriate when someone is physically present in an office that is not the one they intended to be in, or is not the correct office for their purpose. For example, if a visitor mistakenly enters an office, you might say, "You're "in the wrong office"; the reception desk is down the hall."

Is "in the wrong office" grammatically correct?

Yes, "in the wrong office" is grammatically correct. It is a common and acceptable way to describe someone being located in an incorrect office.

What's the difference between "in the wrong office" and "in the wrong job"?

"In the wrong office" refers to a physical location, meaning someone is present in an incorrect office space. On the other hand, "in the wrong job" means someone is not suited for their current employment.