made the wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "made the wrong" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to express having made an incorrect choice or decision, but it requires additional context or words to be grammatically correct. Example: "He made the wrong decision when he chose to invest in that company."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I made the wrong decision.

The New York Times - Sports

I made the wrong one".

The New York Times - Sports

They made the wrong choice".

The New York Times

We would have made the wrong choices.

Independent

They made the wrong decision".

The Guardian - Sport

We made the wrong decisions.

The Guardian - Sport

Have I made the wrong choice?

The Guardian - Travel

I guess I made the wrong decision".

The New York Times

She made the wrong one, of course.

The New York Times

"I believe you made the wrong decision...

The New York Times

Maybe I made the wrong decision.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, avoid "made the wrong" because it is considered grammatically incorrect. A grammatically appropriate substitution will enhance credibility.

Common error

Don't prioritize common usage over grammatical correctness, especially in formal contexts. While "made the wrong" is frequently used, it's not grammatically sound. Using such phrases can impact the credibility of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "made the wrong" typically functions as part of a predicate, indicating that an incorrect or inappropriate selection, decision, or action has occurred. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase requires additional context to be grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Academia

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "made the wrong" is a commonly used but grammatically questionable expression that typically needs more words to be accurate. While frequent in news, media, and less formal writing, Ludwig AI flags this phrase as grammatically incorrect, advising the use of alternatives. When aiming for grammatical correctness and precision in formal contexts, consider alternatives like "made an incorrect decision" or "made a poor choice". Understanding these nuances ensures more effective and credible communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made an incorrect decision

Replaces "wrong" with "incorrect", providing a more formal and grammatically standard alternative.

made a bad choice

Substitutes "wrong" with "bad", offering a simpler and more direct synonym.

made an unfortunate choice

Replaces "wrong" with "unfortunate", adding a sense of regret or negative consequence.

chose poorly

Simplifies the phrase by using a verb-adverb construction instead of "made the wrong choice".

erred in my judgment

Indicates a mistake in assessment or evaluation, suggesting a failure in one's ability to judge correctly.

miscalculated the outcome

Focuses on the incorrect prediction of results, highlighting a failure in foresight.

selected the worse option

Replaces "wrong" with "worse", directly comparing two or more options and choosing the less desirable one.

decided unwisely

Uses an adverb to describe the decision-making process, indicating a lack of wisdom or prudence.

made a regrettable error

Highlights the error as something that causes regret or disappointment.

acted imprudently

Focuses on the lack of caution or good judgment in the action taken.

FAQs

Is "made the wrong" grammatically correct?

No, "made the wrong" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. It's better to use phrases like "made the wrong decision" or "made a mistake".

What can I say instead of "made the wrong choice"?

You can use alternatives like "made an incorrect decision", "made a poor choice", or simply "chose poorly depending on the context.

Which is correct, "made the wrong decision" or "made a wrong decision"?

"Made the wrong decision" is generally preferred because it implies a specific incorrect decision within a given context. "Made a wrong decision" is grammatically correct but less common.

Is "made the wrong call" acceptable in formal writing?

While "made the wrong call" is frequently used, it is more informal. In formal writing, opt for alternatives like "made an incorrect assessment" or "misjudged the situation".