plain wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

"plain wrong" is a correct phrase that can be used in written English.
For example, you could say: "He said he would be there, but he didn't show up - that was plain wrong of him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Plain wrong.

Independent

That's just plain wrong.

University of California, Berkeley

It is plain wrong.

Independent

No, it's plain wrong.

Independent

"And it's plain wrong.

The New York Times - Science

This is plain wrong.

The Guardian

Also, just plain wrong.

The New York Times - Books

They're just plain wrong.

The Guardian - Arts

Some just plain wrong.

The Guardian - Books

This is just plain wrong.

The New York Times

Those forecasts were plain wrong.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "plain wrong", ensure the context is clear and the audience understands that you are making a definitive statement about the inaccuracy of something. It's a strong assertion, so be sure you have your facts straight.

Common error

While "plain wrong" is acceptable in many situations, avoid overusing it in highly formal writing or professional settings where a more nuanced or diplomatic expression of disagreement might be more appropriate. Consider alternatives like "inaccurate" or "incorrect" in those cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plain wrong" functions as an adjectival phrase, directly modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that something is factually incorrect or mistaken. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound way to express disagreement. The phrase serves to emphasize the inaccuracy or error in question.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Opinion

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "plain wrong" is a common and grammatically correct adjectival phrase used to express direct disagreement or to state that something is factually inaccurate. As Ludwig AI validates, this expression is straightforward and easily understood. While its usage is more prevalent in news and media and neutral contexts, you should avoid using it in more formal settings. For formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "simply incorrect", "patently false", or "demonstrably incorrect", ensuring your communication is both clear and appropriate for the intended audience.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

simply incorrect

Emphasizes straightforward error; shifts from colloquial "plain" to more formal "incorrect".

patently false

Highlights obvious falsehood using "patently" instead of "plain".

categorically untrue

Stresses complete lack of truth; uses stronger terms than the original phrase.

demonstrably incorrect

Focuses on the ability to prove the error, adding a layer of verifiability.

flatly mistaken

Uses "flatly" to emphasize the error and replaces "wrong" with "mistaken".

wholly inaccurate

Emphasizes the completeness of the inaccuracy.

absolutely false

Amplifies the falsehood with "absolutely", making a stronger assertion.

completely erroneous

Replaces both words with synonyms emphasizing a mistake based on misinformation.

indisputably wrong

Highlights that the wrongness cannot be argued.

manifestly untrue

Highlights how obviously not true something is.

FAQs

How can I use "plain wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "plain wrong" to directly state that something is incorrect. For example, "His assumption about the economy was just "plain wrong"."

What does "plain wrong" mean?

"Plain wrong" means clearly or obviously incorrect. It's a direct way of expressing disagreement or stating that something is factually inaccurate.

What are some alternatives to saying "plain wrong"?

Alternatives include "simply incorrect", "patently false", or "demonstrably incorrect", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "plain wrong" suitable for formal writing?

While acceptable in many contexts, consider more formal alternatives like "inaccurate" or "incorrect" for highly formal or professional writing to maintain a more neutral tone.