obvious misconception

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "obvious misconception" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a belief or idea that is clearly incorrect or misunderstood by many people. Example: "Many people think that all snakes are dangerous, which is an obvious misconception."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

It's more of a way to reach out and say, 'Come in and understand us".' The most obvious misconception, of course, is that Mormons practice polygamy; the church officially banned the practice in 1890.

The New York Times

It is said that contemporary opera does not have an audience but that is an obvious misconception!

Huffington Post

"Besides the obvious misconception that trans people are in a public restroom to do anything other than use the restroom," he said, "I think most people neglect to see the personal safety issues connected to these poorly conceived legislative moves".

Huffington Post

"Besides the obvious misconception that trans people are in a public restroom to do anything other than use the restroom, I think most people neglect to see the personal safety issues connected to these poorly conceived legislative moves," he said.

Huffington Post

Generally, the common belief in herbs safety is largely attributed to an obvious misconception; based on the fact that herbs and herbal products come from 'nature' and are therefore 'naturally safe' [ 12, 27] or 'intrinsically harmless' [ 27].

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Nowhere are the omissions -- or in some cases, the distortions and misconceptions -- more obvious and unacceptable than they are for the students who now make up the Hispanic majority in California classrooms.

Huffington Post

Hintzman (1991, p. 41) argued that one of the most important uses of formal models is to "clear up misconceptions and reveal underlying truths that are not obvious at first glance".

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

This may be obvious to some readers, but in our experiences, there sometimes are misconceptions that the room design must include all recommended features in order to do SCALE-UP.

International Journal of STEM Education

Conversely, points are deducted from a panellist who gives "answers which are not only wrong, but pathetically obvious," typically answers that are generally believed to be true but in fact are misconceptions, or for obvious joke answers.

Wikipedia

"Given the obvious interest of our shareholder base, I want to be very clear addressing some misconceptions: Let me be unequivocally clear," Mayer said, "our board, management and I have made it our top priority".

Los Angeles Times

As well as obvious issues around customer service in general, and reliability in particular, the solution to these misconceptions lies in how businesses view their logistics.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "obvious misconception", ensure the misconception is genuinely widespread and easily disproven. This strengthens your argument and avoids alienating your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "obvious misconception" to describe a nuanced or debated point. This can come across as condescending and undermine your credibility. Instead, acknowledge the complexity and provide a balanced perspective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "obvious misconception" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "obvious" modifies the noun "misconception". It serves to identify and characterize a belief that is both widely held and demonstrably false. As Ludwig AI pointed out, it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "obvious misconception" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to pinpoint widely held but incorrect beliefs. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is suitable for written English. Though relatively rare in occurrence, it appears across various contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Science publications. When employing this phrase, ensure the misconception is genuinely widespread and easily disprovable to avoid alienating or condescending to your audience. Alternatives such as "clear misunderstanding" or "evident fallacy" offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. This phrase is suitable for neutral to formal registers, and careful consideration of context is crucial for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obvious misunderstanding

Simple replacement of "misconception" with "misunderstanding".

clear misunderstanding

Replaces "misconception" with "misunderstanding", emphasizing a lack of correct comprehension.

plain misconception

Replaces "obvious" with "plain", indicating the misconception is simple and easily understood to be wrong.

evident fallacy

Substitutes "obvious" with "evident" and "misconception" with "fallacy", indicating a readily apparent error in reasoning.

blatant misconception

Replaces "obvious" with "blatant", highlighting the conspicuous and undeniable nature of the misconception.

palpable misconception

Substitutes "obvious" with "palpable", suggesting the misconception is easily perceived or felt.

patent misunderstanding

Replaces "obvious" with "patent", implying the misunderstanding is clear and unconcealed.

flagrant misconception

Substitutes "obvious" with "flagrant", emphasizing the glaring and conspicuous nature of the misconception.

clear error in thinking

More descriptive, replacing "obvious misconception" with a broader concept of a readily apparent error in one's thought process.

common misconception

Focuses on how widely the misconception is spread.

FAQs

How can I use "obvious misconception" in a sentence?

You can use "obvious misconception" to highlight a common but incorrect belief. For example, "An "obvious misconception" is that all fats are unhealthy."

What are some alternatives to "obvious misconception"?

Alternatives include "clear misunderstanding", "evident fallacy", or "blatant misconception". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What makes a misconception "obvious"?

A misconception is "obvious" when it is easily disproven with readily available information or logical reasoning. It's a widespread belief that is demonstrably false.

Is it always appropriate to point out an "obvious misconception"?

While it can be helpful to correct misinformation, consider your audience and the context. Labeling something as an "obvious misconception" can be perceived as condescending, especially if the issue is complex or nuanced.