making the wrong call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "making the wrong call" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it in a variety of contexts, such as when describing a decision that was made with unfortunate results. For example: "The team was devastated after making the wrong call and losing the game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

And making the wrong call can be disastrous.

Harvard Business Review

I have not been in my current job very long, and I worry about making the wrong call.

The New York Times

Young would not blame being shorthanded for making the wrong call, but admitted: "Obviously, if we had another umpire, we would've had a better shot at it".

The New York Times - Sports

Designing a car takes at least one year and often several; making the wrong call on a standardized battery could be economically fatal for a carmaker.

The New York Times - Magazine

And he also said that the company had suffered by making "the wrong call" when it failed to rebrand itself in the aftermath of the botched launch of GM in Europe.

Independent

He said he was not concerned with earning "style points" in the conduct of foreign policy, and he pointed to President George W. Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq as an example of making the wrong call.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Despite the damage of the last three years and the growing cost of living crisis on their watch, they are still making the wrong calls and failing the British people.

The Guardian - Business

The F.C.C. appears to have made the wrong call.

The New York Times

We're sorry that we made the wrong call.

The Guardian

"With the massive volume of videos on our site, sometimes we make the wrong call.

The New York Times

After watching a replay, Kulpa acknowledged that he made the wrong call.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about decisions, consider whether "making the wrong call" accurately reflects the situation. Use it when referring to a specific judgment or choice that led to negative consequences.

Common error

While "making the wrong call" is acceptable, avoid overuse in formal reports. Opt for more precise language, such as "exercising poor judgment" or "committing an error in judgment", to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "making the wrong call" functions as a verbal phrase that describes the act of making a bad or incorrect decision. It's often used to highlight the negative consequences of a particular choice. As shown by Ludwig, this phrase frequently appears in contexts where judgment is being assessed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "making the wrong call" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe the act of making a poor decision. Ludwig AI validates that this phrase is frequently seen in news and business contexts, serving to critique judgments that lead to negative outcomes. Alternatives like "making an incorrect decision" or "exercising poor judgment" can provide more formal options. When writing, be mindful of your audience and context to ensure the phrase appropriately conveys the intended meaning. Understanding usage patterns and alternative options allows for clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

making an incorrect decision

Replaces 'call' with 'decision' and 'wrong' with 'incorrect', slightly more formal.

exercising poor judgment

Focuses on the act of judging badly, shifting from the specific 'call'.

committing an error in judgment

Highlights the mistake aspect of the decision, adding emphasis on error.

reaching an unsound conclusion

Emphasizes the flawed reasoning behind the decision, focusing on the conclusion.

coming to a faulty assessment

Stresses the flawed evaluation process, rather than the decision itself.

choosing unwisely

Simplifies the phrase to a focus on poor choice, less formal.

making a blunder

Uses a stronger term 'blunder' to indicate a significant mistake.

miscalculating the situation

Highlights a flaw in assessing a situation, especially when numbers and data are involved.

erring in one's decision

Formal and emphasizes the act of making a mistake.

displaying bad decision-making skills

More explicitly labels the act as a lack of competence.

FAQs

How can I use "making the wrong call" in a sentence?

You can use "making the wrong call" to describe a poor decision. For example, "The company suffered losses after "making the wrong call" on its investment strategy."

What are some alternatives to "making the wrong call"?

Alternatives include "making an incorrect decision", "exercising poor judgment", or "committing an error in judgment", depending on the context.

Is "making the wrong call" too informal for academic writing?

While acceptable, in academic writing it might be better to use a more formal alternative such as "reaching an unsound conclusion" or "coming to a faulty assessment" to maintain a scholarly tone.

What does "making the wrong call" imply about the decision-making process?

It implies that the decision-maker had options but chose a path that led to undesirable results, suggesting a lapse in judgment or foresight.