misinformation

USAGE SUMMARY

'misinformation' is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is a noun which describes false or inaccurate information, especially when it is given deliberately to deceive. For example: "The company was accused of deliberately spreading misinformation to discredit their competitors."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The three journalists were arrested in their hotel rooms on 29 December and accused of spreading misinformation about Egypt and aiding terrorists – charges they describe as absurd.

The Guardian

"We need a level playing field to stop these environmental groups promulgating misinformation about seafood industry.

The Guardian

Is there something you think should have happened, that didn't, that might have helped to combat that misinformation?

The Guardian

Fossil fuel interests increasingly supplement disinformation with insidious, defeatist, and self-serving misinformation: decades of fossil fuel burning as inevitable for human prosperity; renewable energy expansion as "difficult - if not impossible"; and climate regulation as "highly unlikely" to sway business-as-usual.

The Guardian - Opinion

Sifting information from misinformation is a mug's game when both sides in a negotiation are engaged in brinkmanship.

The Guardian - Business

Fears of the effects on health and plummeting house prices compete with the promise of jobs and money for communities, accompanied by accusations of misinformation and hysteria from both sides.

The Guardian

Over the past year, Edelman came under growing public pressure for its ties to fossil fuel companies and industry groups which have promoted misinformation about climate change.

The Guardian - Business

"We've seen over many years lies, misinformation and smears during the family's attempt to find the truth and justice and answers about how an innocent young man on his way to work was gunned down by police officers".

The Guardian - Tech

People are overt in their dislike of my profession, but I must politely refute a worrying amount of misinformation.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Mr Minchin was not lobbying for any particular project... he was meeting with investment bankers to make the point that the misinformation being circulated was inaccurate... to the extent that investors are taking that into account to make judgements about projects they ought to be aware of it," he said.

The Guardian

Australia has embarked on a "whole of government" diplomatic and ministerial lobbying campaign to correct "misinformation" and prevent the Great Barrier Reef from being placed on the Unesco world heritage committee's "in danger" list, a Senate committee has been told.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When addressing "misinformation", clearly identify the source and specific inaccuracies to effectively counter its spread.

Common error

Avoid attributing malicious intent to all instances of "misinformation". Sometimes, inaccurate information spreads due to misunderstanding or lack of proper verification, not necessarily through deliberate deception.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "misinformation" is as a noun. It refers to information that is incorrect or misleading, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, describing the content itself.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "misinformation" is a noun used to describe incorrect or misleading information across various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in written English. As evidenced by the numerous examples analyzed, it is frequently encountered in News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science, demonstrating its broad applicability. While alternatives like "false information" or "incorrect data" exist, "misinformation" provides a concise and widely understood term for discussing the spread of inaccurate information. Remember to identify sources and inaccuracies when addressing "misinformation", while also acknowledging that not all "misinformation" is intentional.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disinformation

Highlights the deliberate intent to mislead, often on a larger scale.

false information

Replaces "misinformation" with more direct and commonly understood terms.

falsehoods

A simple, direct synonym for untrue statements.

incorrect data

Focuses on the factual inaccuracy of the information.

untrue claims

Highlights the lack of truthfulness in the statements.

deceptive information

Emphasizes the intent to mislead or deceive.

unsubstantiated reports

Indicates a lack of evidence or verification for the information.

erroneous details

Focuses on the presence of errors in the specifics.

fabricated stories

Suggests the information is entirely made up.

propaganda

Implies a systematic dissemination of biased or misleading information.

FAQs

How can I use "misinformation" in a sentence?

You can use "misinformation" to describe the spread of false or inaccurate information. For example, "The campaign aimed to combat the spread of "misinformation" about the vaccine."

What is the difference between "misinformation" and "disinformation"?

"Misinformation" refers to false or inaccurate information, regardless of intent. "Disinformation", on the other hand, is deliberately false or misleading information spread to deceive.

What can I say instead of "misinformation"?

Alternatives to "misinformation" include "false information", "incorrect data", or "untrue claims", depending on the specific context.

Is "misinformation" a formal word?

"Misinformation" is a neutral and widely accepted term suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its formality depends more on the surrounding language than the word itself.