not exactly correct

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not exactly correct" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that an idea, opinion, or statement is incorrect or inaccurate in some way. For example, you might say, "I'm afraid your answer was not exactly correct - the correct answer is 1,235."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

If this was the only illuminant in the scene, adapting to it would force it to white, which is not exactly correct.

Stanford University

But that's not exactly correct.

TechCrunch

As the correspondent controlling points on the reference and target acquired by ICP closest points searching is not exactly correct, the condition in formula (1) is not satisfied.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

J.G.: There are a number of things in it, and not a large number, that are close but are not exactly correct.

Science Magazine

This, in combination with the Earth model that is perhaps not exactly correct, happened to lead to a good fit with measured GIC data (R. Pirjola, D. Boteler, personal communication).

Earth, Planets and Space

That's not exactly correct.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

I explained that this isn't exactly correct, although the assumption was understandable, because Sayyid finds a large number of sex drugs and paraphernalia in the trash.

The New Yorker

QUESTION FROM MARK: on august 27, 2007, Ahmadinejad stated Iran would fill the "power vacuum" in Iraq, and today Saudi arabia is fearful of Iran and the shiite uprising, how can you say trump isn't exactly correct that "Iran will invade iraq the minute the United States leaves".? HENDRIK HERTZBERG: Iran's influence in Iraq is a direct result of the U.S. occupation.

The New Yorker

First of all, that isn't exactly correct.

Forbes

Verizon wasn't exactly correct in saying that missing hardware was the culprit, but it doesn't seem like their intentions were nefarious.

TechCrunch

This isn't exactly correct.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not exactly correct" when you want to politely point out a mistake without being overly critical. It's a gentler way to express disagreement or correction.

Common error

Avoid using "not exactly correct" repeatedly in formal documents or academic papers. Opt for more precise and professional language, such as "inaccurate" or "partially flawed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not exactly correct" functions as an adverbial modifier that qualifies the adjective "correct". As seen in Ludwig, it serves to soften or nuance a correction, indicating that something is not entirely accurate.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Academia

32%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not exactly correct" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that something is inaccurate in some way. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts but particularly useful when a polite or gentle correction is desired. While versatile, it's essential to consider the audience and purpose when using "not exactly correct", opting for more formal language like "inaccurate" in professional settings. The phrase is frequently found in "News & Media", "Science", and "Academia", and is a valuable addition to any writer's toolkit for expressing nuanced opinions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat inaccurate

Indicates a slight degree of inaccuracy, softening the criticism.

partially incorrect

Highlights that only a portion of something is wrong, not the whole.

not entirely accurate

Suggests there are some inaccuracies but the statement might hold some truth.

a bit off

An informal way of saying something is not quite right.

not quite right

A more general way of saying something is wrong or needs adjustment.

slightly flawed

Emphasizes a defect or imperfection, but not necessarily a complete error.

imprecise

Highlights a lack of exactness or accuracy.

not completely true

Suggests the statement contains untruths or omissions.

off the mark

Indicates a statement is far from the actual truth or correct answer.

not on the nose

Means something isn't precise or directly correct.

FAQs

How can I use "not exactly correct" in a sentence?

You can use "not exactly correct" to politely point out an inaccuracy. For example, "While your calculation is close, it's "not exactly correct"; the actual value is slightly higher".

What are some alternatives to using "not exactly correct"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "somewhat inaccurate", "partially incorrect", or "not entirely accurate".

Is it appropriate to use "not exactly correct" in formal writing?

While "not exactly correct" is understandable, more formal alternatives like "inaccurate" or "imprecise" are generally preferred in formal writing.

What's the difference between "not exactly correct" and "incorrect"?

"Not exactly correct" implies a degree of closeness to the truth, suggesting a partial or slight error. "Incorrect", on the other hand, is a more direct and absolute statement indicating something is wrong.