materially correct

USAGE SUMMARY

"materially correct" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to mean that something is factually or substantially correct, but may not be entirely correct or accurate. For example, you could say, "The materials you gave me were materially correct, but some of the details were incorrect."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

In its statement, Transocean said that its "tax returns are materially correct as filed" and that it "will vigorously defend any claims to the contrary".

The New York Times

We believe that the outrage they aimed at us for reporting the story, which we believe was materially correct, should have been aimed at CBS instead.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The SEC called the proxy materials materially false and misleading.

Forbes

Correction for missing biopsy results did not materially affect the estimate (corrected specificity 0.910, 95% CI 0.906 0.914).

British Journal of Cancer

"If there is something out there, which if not corrected would be materially misleading, then the company has a duty to correct it," Mr. Lowenfels said.

The New York Times

My policy: I correct only errors that materially affect my argument.

The New York Times

The Second Sex may be read as correcting this error – as reworking and materially situating the analyses of The Ethics of Ambiguity.

SEP

The use of data on total body bone mineral content corrected for cluster effects 32 41 did not materially affect the result (total body bone mineral content standardised mean difference 0.09, −0.08 to 0.26).

British Medical Journal

Indeed, insofar as Gassendi considers pleasure to be a materially-realized phenomenon, he shares Hobbes's view of the morally correct as something that can be defined in physical terms.

SEP

Correcting for intracluster correlation in one study did not materially affect the results for total body bone mineral content (data not shown).

British Medical Journal

Sensitivity analyses to correct for potential under-ascertainment of ethnicity using SANGRA did not materially affect the estimates of trend in the rate ratios, although, as expected, it did slightly increase their mortality rates (data not presented).

British Journal of Cancer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "materially correct" when you want to convey that information is substantially accurate, even if some minor details might be incorrect or incomplete. It's useful in contexts where absolute precision isn't critical, but overall factual correctness is important.

Common error

Avoid using "materially correct" if you intend to communicate that something is entirely and perfectly accurate. The phrase inherently implies a degree of imperfection or incompleteness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "materially correct" functions as a descriptive adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate a state of substantial accuracy, though not necessarily perfect accuracy. Ludwig examples show its use in contexts requiring factual correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "materially correct" signifies substantial accuracy, allowing for minor inaccuracies. It's deemed grammatically correct and primarily used in news and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI confirms the validity of this phrase. When using "materially correct", bear in mind that it does not imply absolute precision. Alternatives like "substantially accurate" or "largely accurate" can offer similar nuances. While not frequent, its consistent use in authoritative sources suggests a specific, reliable meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantially accurate

Emphasizes the accuracy of the core information, similar to "materially correct".

largely accurate

Indicates a high degree of accuracy, but allows for minor inaccuracies.

essentially accurate

Highlights the fundamental accuracy of the information.

factually sound

Focuses on the factual correctness of the statement or information.

generally correct

Suggests that the information is correct in most aspects.

mostly right

A more informal way of saying that something is largely correct.

correct in substance

Highlights that the core message or substance is correct, even if details may be off.

accurate in essence

Similar to 'correct in substance', emphasizing the accuracy of the main idea.

accurate on the whole

Indicates overall accuracy despite potential small errors.

valid in general

Emphasizes the general validity or correctness of the information.

FAQs

How can I use "materially correct" in a sentence?

You can use "materially correct" to describe something that is mostly accurate but may have some minor errors. For example, "The report was "materially correct", although a few figures needed updating."

What's a more formal alternative to "materially correct"?

A more formal alternative could be "substantially accurate" or "largely accurate". These phrases convey a similar meaning but are often preferred in professional or academic writing.

Is "materially correct" the same as "completely correct"?

No, "materially correct" implies that something is accurate in its main points but may contain minor inaccuracies. "Completely correct" means there are no errors whatsoever. They are not interchangeable.

In what situations is it appropriate to use "materially correct"?

It's appropriate when you want to acknowledge that information is largely accurate and reliable, but you're also aware that it might not be perfect. This can be useful in legal contexts, journalism, or academic work where precision is important but absolute certainty isn't always possible.