is utterly off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is utterly off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express that something is completely incorrect or inappropriate. Example: "The information you provided is utterly off; it doesn't match any of the facts we have."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Maybe the moral culture is strong, but it is utterly off track.

The New York Times

In English his act is utterly off the wall – far weirder than anything being done, as far as I know, by anglophone comedians.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They do a few interesting traditional dishes here too, including a sesadilla pork-brain quesadilla, which may sound gnarly but is utterly off-the-planet delicious.

Vice

Since both theorists and the wider public are prone to misuse evolutionary concepts and principles to such ends, it is reasonable to think either that extreme care must be exercised if evolutionary theory is used to illuminate any aspect of our humanity, or even to think that evolutionary theory should be utterly off-limits as we seek to understand ourselves.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Letty Butler and Lucy Pearman comprise the two-piece LetLuce, and their show Sea Men – A Naval Tale was lauded at the Edinburgh Fringe for its eccentricity and for being utterly off-the-wall.

Vice

There are also new interviews with Caballé, the surviving members of Queen and a host of friends, and all are agreed on one point: Mercury was a fastidious, generous man whose private life was utterly off limits to anyone outside the inner circle.

The Guardian - Music

Zemeckis's vision of the towers is utterly decontextualized, cut off from the life of the city at large and from the era overall (and a pointed reference in dialogue to Richard Nixon's crookery conceals more than it evokes).

The New Yorker

"I was utterly pissed off with the report," she says.

The Guardian

The club looms large in Tollygunge, but by now it's utterly sealed off, impenetrable to non-members.

The New Yorker

These sensible souls take such pride in their refusal to stray from the straight and narrow that they are utterly thrown off balance when their luck takes a precipitous turn for the worse.

The New York Times - Books

They are utterly cut off from the spirit of their more noble predecessors, who knew that the fastest way to make someone feel well is to tell her that things are as bad as, and possibly much worse than, she could ever have thought.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "is utterly off" to express strong disagreement or to indicate that something is substantially deviating from what is accurate or appropriate. For example, "His assessment of the situation is utterly off."

Common error

Avoid using "is utterly off" in situations where a milder disagreement is sufficient. Overusing intensifiers can weaken your message. Instead, reserve it for instances where the deviation or error is significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is utterly off" functions as a predicate adjective, modifying a subject by expressing a state of being that is completely incorrect or inappropriate. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically correct construction.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "is utterly off" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express that something is completely incorrect or inappropriate. While not extremely common, it appears in various contexts, primarily within news and media. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and while alternatives like ""is completely wrong"" or ""is entirely inaccurate"" exist, "is utterly off" is a potent way to convey strong disagreement. Remember to use it judiciously, reserving it for situations where the deviation or error is truly significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is completely wrong

Replaces "utterly off" with a more direct term for incorrectness.

is wholly incorrect

Synonymous replacement of “utterly” with “wholly”.

is plainly incorrect

Highlights the obviousness of the error.

is entirely inaccurate

Emphasizes the lack of accuracy, rather than appropriateness or correctness.

is dead wrong

An emphatic way of stating something is incorrect.

is totally mistaken

Focuses on the error being a result of a misunderstanding or misjudgment.

is simply not true

A straightforward denial of the veracity of something.

is way off base

An idiomatic expression highlighting a significant deviation from the correct point.

is far from the truth

Indicates a considerable distance from factual accuracy.

is a complete fabrication

Suggests the information is not just wrong, but intentionally made up.

FAQs

What does "is utterly off" mean?

The phrase "is utterly off" means that something is completely incorrect, inappropriate, or unrealistic. It suggests a significant deviation from what is considered right or accurate.

What are some alternatives to "is utterly off"?

Alternatives include "is completely wrong", "is entirely inaccurate", or "is totally mistaken" depending on the context.

How formal is the phrase "is utterly off"?

The phrase "is utterly off" is suitable for neutral to slightly formal contexts. While "utterly" intensifies the statement, it's generally acceptable in professional or news-related writing. However, it might be too strong for very formal or academic settings.

When should I use "is utterly off" instead of "is wrong"?

Use "is utterly off" when you want to emphasize the degree to which something is incorrect or inappropriate. It conveys a stronger sense of disagreement or error than simply saying "is wrong".