misguided assertion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "misguided assertion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a statement or belief that is based on incorrect reasoning or understanding. Example: "The politician's claim about the economy was a misguided assertion that failed to consider the latest data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The postmortem headlines have focused almost exclusively on Minaj's reaction to Swift's rather misguided assertion that the rapper's missives were directed squarely at her – probably because she's long been the perennial winner of fan-voted awards.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Over the past two weeks, we have heard egregiously disrespectful statements about women, along with deeply misguided assertions about sexual and domestic violence.

Huffington Post

Gove is misguided in his assertion that the current system encourages students to memorise information that they forget after exams; he also fails to acknowledge that modules are interlinked, with A-levels building on knowledge gained at AS-level.

The Guardian - Opinion

Where the NEA is misguided is in its assertion that accountability must be punitive and one-size-fits all.

Huffington Post

Does he wonder what his dad, who spoke out against the futility of an earlier misguided war, would think of his assertion that President Obama's move to end the Iraq war represented an "astonishing failure"?

The New York Times

Attempts to present the veil as a tool of empowerment, she writes, "rest on a dubious post-modernist conception of power according to which whatever a woman undertakes to do is liberating as long as she thinks that she is engaged in some form of 'resistance' or self-assertion, no matter how misguided".

The Economist

"We have always maintained that the original judgement was misguided and mishandled and it is our assertion that Mike has been unfairly treated as a scapegoat on this matter".

BBC

Almost a decade later, it appears that two gross errors of judgment took place: Mr. Lindh's misguided and naïve behavior, and the tragically overblown assertion that he was one of them, a terrorist.

The New York Times

In true Wonkblog fashion, the native Californian provided a list of five points supporting his assertion that cold-lovers are woefully misguided.

BBC

The March 15 editorial "Why Label Genetically Engineered Foods?" bases its misguided opposition to labeling of genetically engineered foods on the assertion that they have not been proved to pose health risks to consumers, but that is not the standard for labeling in the United States.

The New York Times

In summary, we believe that the assertions made in these two letters are speculative and misguided.

Diabetologia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "misguided assertion", ensure that you can clearly articulate why the assertion is flawed. Providing evidence or reasoning strengthens your critique.

Common error

Avoid using "misguided assertion" when the statement is only partially incorrect or simply a matter of opinion. Reserve it for cases where the assertion is fundamentally flawed in its reasoning or based on demonstrably false information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "misguided assertion" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "misguided" modifies the noun "assertion". It serves to characterize a statement as flawed or based on faulty reasoning. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts, highlighting its critical function.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "misguided assertion" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a statement based on flawed reasoning or incorrect information. While relatively rare, Ludwig shows that it appears in news media and scientific contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure you can clearly articulate the flaws in the assertion. Alternatives include "incorrect claim" or "false statement", depending on the specific context. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for both formal and informal analytical writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

misguided argument

Replaces "assertion" with "argument", implying a more reasoned but ultimately flawed case.

inaccurate assertion

Substitutes "misguided" with "inaccurate", focusing on the lack of factual correctness.

incorrect assertion

Replaces "misguided" with "incorrect", indicating a deviation from what is right or true.

false assertion

Substitutes "misguided" with "false", emphasizing the untruthfulness of the statement.

misguided statement

Replaces "assertion" with "statement", a more general term for something declared.

wrong assertion

Uses "wrong" instead of "misguided", suggesting that the assertion is not correct.

misinformed assertion

Replaces "misguided" with "misinformed", implying the assertion is based on a lack of knowledge.

erroneous assertion

Substitutes "misguided" with "erroneous", highlighting the presence of error.

faulty assertion

Replaces "misguided" with "faulty", suggesting a defect in the assertion's construction.

unwise assertion

Substitutes "misguided" with "unwise", suggesting the assertion is imprudent.

FAQs

How can I use "misguided assertion" in a sentence?

You can use "misguided assertion" to describe a claim or statement that is based on faulty reasoning or incorrect information. For example, "The politician's economic forecast was a "misguided assertion" that ignored key market indicators."

What are some alternatives to "misguided assertion"?

Some alternatives include "incorrect claim", "false statement", or "faulty reasoning", depending on the specific context.

Is "misguided assertion" a formal or informal phrase?

"Misguided assertion" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though it is more commonly found in analytical writing and discussions.

What's the difference between "misguided assertion" and "unsubstantiated claim"?

A "misguided assertion" is based on flawed reasoning or incorrect information, while an "unsubstantiated claim" simply lacks evidence to support it. The former is actively flawed; the latter is passively unsupported.