must be incorrect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be incorrect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing doubt or certainty about the accuracy of information or a statement. Example: "After reviewing the calculations, I concluded that the result must be incorrect."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Gulmarg's claim, however, must be incorrect.

The New York Times

The student said the grade must be incorrect because he had turned up to all the lectures – as if simply regurgitating what I had taught him deserved a 70+ grade.

The Guardian

Lord Kelvin suggested that the derivation of the equipartition theorem must be incorrect, since it disagreed with experiment, but was unable to show how.

Wikipedia

These annotations must be incorrect two out of three times if the three annotations disagree with each other.

Plosone

If this inference alone is correct, then the "paralog root" must be incorrect; instead the root necessarily falls within eubacteria.

Biology Direct

Given that the authors referred to the elevated HR in exposed mice, the key in the print version must be incorrect.

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

It may turn out that nothing fits the role picked out by these ordinary beliefs and their philosophical precisifications, yet even in that case we'd be inclined to conclude that chance doesn't exist, not that our ordinary beliefs about what chance must be are incorrect.

SEP

His motivation is clear: "Such information as it contains is valuable; because, without knowing the extent to which education, and particularly the education of the labouring classes, prevails, the best opinions which can be formed of the condition and future progress of society must be necessarily incorrect".

The Guardian

After all, since snow is evidently not green, there must be something incorrect or defective about Mary's assertion that it is.

SEP

If not, there must be some incorrect pixel values in B. So we need to modify the high-resolution image using the low-resolution image information, which leads to pixel substitution in the next step.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Moreover, the arguments against the biological plausibility of these modes of action must in some way be incorrect.

Critical Reviews in Toxicology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must be incorrect", ensure that the context clearly indicates the basis for your assessment. Provide supporting evidence or reasoning to strengthen your claim.

Common error

Avoid using "must be incorrect" when you only have a hunch or a weak suspicion. Overstating your certainty without sufficient evidence can undermine your credibility. Instead, use softer phrases like "may be incorrect" or "might be incorrect" to reflect the uncertainty.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be incorrect" functions as an evaluative assessment, expressing a strong conviction about the inaccuracy or invalidity of something. It suggests a conclusion drawn from available evidence or reasoning. Ludwig confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

46%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "must be incorrect" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression that conveys a strong belief about the inaccuracy of something. As Ludwig AI points out, it's suitable for various contexts, particularly in scientific, news, and encyclopedic content. While "must be incorrect" implies certainty, ensure your assessment is supported by evidence. Alternative phrases such as "has to be wrong" or "is likely erroneous" can be used to adjust the level of certainty conveyed. Remember to avoid overstating certainty without sufficient evidence and, instead, provide supporting reasons when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has to be wrong

Uses "has to be" instead of "must be", suggesting a similar level of certainty with slightly different phrasing.

is likely erroneous

Replaces "must be" with "is likely", reducing the level of certainty and using the more formal "erroneous" instead of "incorrect".

is probably wrong

Similar to "is likely erroneous" but less formal; uses "probably" to express a degree of uncertainty.

is definitely not right

Emphasizes the incorrectness by stating it is "definitely not right", using a more emphatic and less formal tone.

is certainly mistaken

Substitutes "incorrect" with "mistaken", which softens the assertion, and "certainly" for "must be" to indicate a strong belief.

is bound to be false

Suggests an inevitable falsehood, replacing "must be" with "is bound to be" to show a prediction of inaccuracy.

is almost certainly wrong

Adds "almost" to "certainly", slightly reducing the level of confidence in the assessment of being wrong.

is without a doubt incorrect

Emphasizes the certainty of being incorrect using the phrase "without a doubt", adding a stronger tone.

is in all likelihood wrong

Replaces "must be" with "is in all likelihood", indicating a high probability of being wrong in a formal way.

cannot be right

Uses a double negative to imply something is incorrect, conveying a firm conviction.

FAQs

How can I use "must be incorrect" in a sentence?

The phrase "must be incorrect" expresses a strong belief that something is not accurate or right. For example: "After reviewing the data, I concluded that the initial calculation "must be incorrect"."

What are some alternatives to "must be incorrect"?

You can use alternatives like "has to be wrong", "is likely erroneous", or "is probably wrong" depending on the context and the level of certainty you want to convey.

Is it too strong to say "must be incorrect"?

The phrase "must be incorrect" conveys a high degree of certainty. If you are not entirely sure, consider using less assertive alternatives such as "may be incorrect" or "could be wrong".

Which is correct, "must be incorrect" or "must be not correct"?

"Must be incorrect" is the correct phrasing. "Must be not correct" is grammatically awkward and not commonly used.