incorrectly believe that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "incorrectly believe that" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to describe a situation where someone holds a belief that is not accurate or true. Here is an example of how it can be used in a sentence: Many investors incorrectly believe that the stock market will always go up, leading them to make risky investments without considering potential downturns.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

And many incorrectly believe that the police, like Transportation Security Administration officers, are required to have female officers frisk women.

The New York Times

My intrepretaion of the article is that you are writing that the neocons incorrectly believe that American values (read: democracy and open politics) are universal.So which is it?

The Economist

They may have led the public and clinicians to incorrectly believe that there was strong scientific evidence that varenicline causes or exacerbates mental health problems.

The Guardian

The survey found that 33percentt of the heads of household who have homeowners' insurance incorrectly believe that damage from a flood would be covered by their policies.

The New York Times

They correctly perceive the situation as a public relations problem, but incorrectly believe that by attaching a chef's name to a bad meal it will magically become a good one.

The New York Times - Travel

"People incorrectly believe that these 'legal highs' are then both safe and appropriate alternatives to street drugs".

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

Atlanta Michael Rhoads incorrectly believes that "cholly" (not "holly") is a mispronunciation of challah.

The New York Times

All this came at a time when polling showed that nearly one-fifth of Americans incorrectly believed that Obama was Muslim, up from about one-tenth a year earlier.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The judges, who included Siméon-Denis Poisson, did not understand what Galois had written and (incorrectly) believed that it contained a significant error.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Inspired by the great success of conic sections in these settings, Galileo incorrectly believed that a hanging chain would take the shape of a parabola.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They incorrectly believed that it would run from $2,250 to $3,600, the figures emphasized in brochures published by the government and insurance companies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "incorrectly believe that", ensure that you provide evidence or context to demonstrate why the belief is, in fact, incorrect. This strengthens your argument and avoids simply stating an opinion.

Common error

Avoid using emotionally charged language or accusatory tones when stating that someone "incorrectly believe that". Present the correct information objectively and allow the reader to draw their own conclusions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "incorrectly believe that" functions as a descriptor of a flawed understanding or assumption. As Ludwig AI notes, it's used when someone holds a belief that deviates from established facts. It introduces a statement expressing that someone's conviction is not accurate.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

40%

Encyclopedias

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "incorrectly believe that" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that someone holds a belief that is not accurate. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. It is most frequently found in News & Media and Science sources, and its function is to highlight misconceptions and pave the way for presenting accurate information. While alternatives such as "wrongly believe that" and "mistakenly believe that" exist, "incorrectly believe that" is a solid choice for expressing a divergence from factual accuracy in a neutral to formal register. When using this phrase, providing evidence to support the claim of incorrectness enhances the argument.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inaccurately believe that

Replaces "incorrectly" with "inaccurately", maintaining a similar level of formality but emphasizing the lack of precision in the belief.

wrongly believe that

A shorter synonym, using "wrongly" instead of "incorrectly", which maintains the same meaning and level of formality.

mistakenly believe that

Using "mistakenly" instead of "incorrectly" emphasizes that the belief is due to an error or misunderstanding.

wrongfully believe that

Substitutes "incorrectly" with "wrongfully", suggesting the belief is not only inaccurate but also potentially unjust or inappropriate.

erroneously believe that

Replaces "incorrectly" with "erroneously", adding a slightly more formal tone and emphasizing the deviation from truth.

incorrectly presume that

Substitutes "believe" with "presume", indicating that the belief is based on an assumption without sufficient evidence.

falsely believe that

Using "falsely" instead of "incorrectly" suggests a stronger degree of untruth or deception in the belief.

incorrectly imagine that

Replaces "believe" with "imagine", implying the belief is based more on fantasy or speculation than fact.

are under the misapprehension that

This is a more formal and verbose way of expressing the same idea, indicating a misunderstanding or misconception.

labor under the illusion that

Implies that the false belief is a comforting but ultimately untrue idea.

FAQs

What does "incorrectly believe that" mean?

The phrase "incorrectly believe that" signifies holding a belief that is not in accordance with facts or reality; it means someone's understanding or assumption is wrong.

How can I use "incorrectly believe that" in a sentence?

You can use "incorrectly believe that" to point out a misconception someone has. For example: "Many people "incorrectly believe that" the Earth is flat".

What are some alternatives to "incorrectly believe that"?

Alternatives include "wrongly believe that", "mistakenly believe that", or "falsely believe that". The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "incorrectly believe that" or "wrongly believe that"?

"Incorrectly believe that" and "wrongly believe that" are largely interchangeable. "Incorrectly" is generally considered more formal, while "wrongly" is more colloquial.