mislead

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "mislead" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of causing someone to have a wrong idea or impression about something. Example: "The advertisement was designed to mislead consumers about the product's effectiveness."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wikipedia says that "sock-puppetry" – creating a fake online identity "for an improper purpose, such as to mislead other editors, disrupt discussions, distort consensus or avoid sanctions" – is not permitted.

The Guardian

The appearance of the Plaid Cymru leader, Leanne Wood, on last week's UK-wide televised leaders' debate, where she deservedly won applause for a doughty duffing of Nigel Farage, should not be allowed to mislead either.

The Guardian - Opinion

The same day, student X's father wrote another letter to Hall, alleging that, "senior BBC executives had made numerous public statements after the programme was broadcast that were either untrue or deceptive and designed to mislead the public as to the true nature of the BBC's involvement".

The Guardian

Yet if he had come clean about his decisions to go to war, if he had not mislead the international community on his motives, we would not be seeing a unanimous dragging of heels when it comes to intervention in Syria.

The Guardian - Opinion

But O'Donnell clears Labour of a conspiracy to mislead, saying: "Policy was progressively developed that HMG should do all it could, whilst respecting devolved competences, to facilitate an appeal by the Libyans to the Scottish government for Megrahi's release under the prisoner transfer agreement or release on compassionate grounds as the best outcome for managing the risks faced by the UK".

The Guardian

But getting there requires a daily struggle against those who would mislead us.

The Guardian - Opinion

Therefore, because the subscription fee was not detailed in the ad, we concluded that the ad was likely to mislead".

The Guardian

"We concluded the ad was likely to mislead".

The Guardian

Michael Stephenson, director of campaigns at the league, insists there is no attempt to mislead.

The Guardian

It found no evidence of direct pressure being brought to bear or any attempt to mislead by ministers.

The Guardian

The CIA gave inaccurate information to journalists in background briefings to mislead the public about the efficacy of its interrogation programme, the report reveals.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "mislead", ensure that the context clearly indicates who is being misled and what the false impression is. This adds clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "mislead" when the action was unintentional or simply a mistake. Opt for words like "misinform" or "confuse" if there was no deliberate intent to deceive.

Linguistic Context

The word "mislead" functions primarily as a verb, indicating the action of causing someone to have a wrong idea or impression. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Formal & Business

24%

Science

22%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "mislead" is a versatile verb used to describe the act of causing someone to have a false impression or belief. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. With a high frequency of occurrence in contexts like news and media, formal business, and science, it is important to grasp the nuances of its usage. While synonyms like "deceive" and "misinform" exist, "mislead" often suggests a less direct or intentional form of deception. When using "mislead", ensure clarity about who is being misled and the nature of the false impression. Be cautious of overstating the intent if the action was unintentional. Ludwig's examples show that authoritative sources frequently employ this term when discussing actions that create inaccurate perceptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deceive

Implies a deliberate act to make someone believe something that is not true.

misinform

Suggests providing incorrect or inaccurate information, whether intentional or unintentional.

delude

Indicates making someone believe something that is not true, often with a strong emotional component.

misguide

Suggests leading someone in the wrong direction, often through poor advice or planning.

fool

Informal term for deceiving someone.

trick

Implies using deception to achieve a goal.

dupe

Means to deceive or trick someone easily.

take in

Informal way of saying to deceive someone.

lead astray

Indicates leading someone into bad behavior or incorrect thinking.

give a false impression

Suggests creating an inaccurate perception without necessarily lying directly.

FAQs

How is "mislead" different from "deceive"?

"Deceive" implies a deliberate intention to make someone believe something false. "Mislead" can imply intention, but it can also mean to unintentionally give a false impression.

What are some synonyms for "mislead"?

You can use synonyms like "deceive", "misinform", "delude", or "misguide" depending on the specific context.

Is it always wrong to "mislead" someone?

Generally, "mislead" has negative connotations because it involves giving a false impression. However, in some limited situations, like in espionage, it might be considered necessary.

How to use "mislead" in a sentence?

Use "mislead" to indicate that someone is causing another person to have a false belief or understanding. For example, "The company's advertising was designed to mislead consumers about the product's capabilities."