patently wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

"patently wrong" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It means something is clearly or obviously incorrect. Example: "Her argument was patently wrong, as she had not taken into account all the relevant facts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

This is patently wrong.

The Economist

The received wisdom was patently wrong.

Independent

"This claim is just patently wrong," Dr. Gardner said.

The New York Times - Science

And for derivatives, historic cost accounting is patently wrong.

The Economist

"It is patently wrong for young people to have such a poor start in life".

The New York Times

James F. Kralik, the Rockland sheriff, called the decision "patently wrong".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

RAQ: This is patently incorrect.

Huffington Post

Even when he is proven to be factually wrong, patently offensive, or just plain cray-cray, Trump understands that it is impossible to apologize without sounding weak and prevaricating.

Huffington Post

Patently this is wrong, for several reasons.

The Guardian - Sport

The anti-Jewish backlash follows, as Jews are perceived as supporting action that is patently and unquestionably wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

Unlike the NATO press machine, the Taliban are willing to give details, and while some are patently exaggerated or wrong, others have just enough elements of truth that they cannot be entirely ignored.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "patently wrong" when you want to emphasize that something is not just incorrect, but obviously and undeniably so. This phrase is more impactful than simply saying "wrong."

Common error

Avoid using "patently wrong" too frequently in your writing, as it can make your tone sound overly critical or aggressive. Consider using softer alternatives like "incorrect" or "mistaken" when a less emphatic statement is appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "patently wrong" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun or pronoun. It emphasizes the obviousness of an error or falsehood. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

74%

Science

11%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "patently wrong" is a grammatically correct and frequently used adjective phrase that expresses strong disagreement by emphasizing the obviousness of an error. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability and provides several real-world examples. While it is prevalent in News & Media contexts, its neutral register allows for usage across different types of writing. When employing this phrase, be mindful of its impact and consider softer alternatives when a less emphatic tone is suitable. Related phrases like "clearly incorrect" or "obviously false" can provide subtle variations in meaning and emphasis. With a source quality score of 89 and expert rating of 4.6, "patently wrong" stands out as a reliable and clear way to express firm disagreement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

clearly incorrect

Replaces "wrong" with "incorrect" and "patently" with "clearly", emphasizing the lack of doubt.

obviously false

Substitutes "wrong" with "false" and "patently" with "obviously", indicating a clear lack of truth.

blatantly untrue

Replaces "wrong" with "untrue" and "patently" with "blatantly", highlighting the obvious nature of the falsehood.

demonstrably false

Replaces "patently wrong" with a more formal term, suggesting that the error can be proven.

indisputably incorrect

Emphasizes that the statement is beyond questioning by using stronger terms.

plainly mistaken

Indicates an error with a slightly softer tone, suggesting misunderstanding rather than intentional deception.

manifestly erroneous

Uses more formal vocabulary to convey the idea that the error is evident and clear.

categorically false

Highlights that the statement belongs to a category of things that are false.

utterly fallacious

Emphasizes the complete and total lack of truth in the statement.

decidedly flawed

Indicates a distinct and significant problem or weakness, but doesn't necessarily mean it's a lie.

FAQs

How to use "patently wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "patently wrong" to describe a statement, idea, or action that is clearly and obviously incorrect. For example: "His claim that the Earth is flat is "patently wrong"."

What can I say instead of "patently wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "clearly incorrect", "obviously false", or "blatantly untrue" depending on the context. These phrases all convey a similar meaning of obvious error.

Which is correct, "patently wrong" or "obviously wrong"?

Both ""patently wrong"" and "obviously wrong" are correct, but "patently wrong" suggests a more undeniable and blatant error. The choice depends on the degree of emphasis you want to convey.

What's the difference between "patently wrong" and "slightly wrong"?

"Patently wrong" means something is clearly and obviously incorrect, leaving no room for doubt. "Slightly wrong" implies a minor inaccuracy or error that is not necessarily obvious.