radically mistaken

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "radically mistaken" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a belief or opinion that is fundamentally wrong or misguided. Example: "His interpretation of the events was radically mistaken, leading to a series of poor decisions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Must black men in England be so radically mistaken for someone else? No. Get the criminals, you dunces.

The Guardian - Opinion

On what grounds can we trust our theories if they could all be radically mistaken?

SEP

Folk physics, folk biology, folk epidemiology and the like all proved to be radically mistaken.

SEP

Crucially, however, because the reference relation is external, competent users of a term can be radically mistaken about what the term refers to and still successfully refer.

SEP

All of them opposed the increasing groundswell of radically mistaken, indeed irrational, ways of thinking about thought and its place in the world.

SEP

Yet it is crucial to their position that even our best scientific theories General Relativity, Quantum Theory, Theory of Evolution etc. could be radically mistaken.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Beliefs, then, like "celestial spheres" or "phlogiston", will be judged not actually to exist, but rather to be the mistaken posits of a radically false theory.

SEP

The price we pay for "taking luck seriously" is that our everyday moral judgments are, if not always mistaken, at the very least radically incomplete.

SEP

"If they really are demonstrating a mistaken sense of agency, then, wow, we are quite radically wrong about what we thought about ourselves".

The New Yorker

For example, we might mistake a whale for a fish; this is a misconception, but we do not have to radically change our way of looking at the world to fix it we do have to accept that some mammals live in water, a considerable surprise, no doubt.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The good news is that addressing these mistakes can radically increase our likelihood of sticking to our resolutions and finding success.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "radically mistaken" to emphasize a fundamental or significant error in understanding or belief, especially when the mistake has far-reaching consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "radically mistaken" in informal situations where a simpler term like "wrong" or "incorrect" would suffice. Its strong emphasis can sound overly dramatic or pretentious in everyday conversation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "radically mistaken" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes something as being fundamentally or extremely incorrect. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

43%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "radically mistaken" is a valid and usable English expression that describes something as being fundamentally or extremely incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's most commonly found in Science and News & Media contexts, indicating its suitability for formal and neutral registers. While it conveys a strong sense of disagreement or error, it is important to use it judiciously, avoiding overuse in casual contexts where simpler alternatives like "completely wrong" or "utterly misguided" might be more appropriate. Remember that emphasizing the significance of an error with "radically mistaken" is its strength, but overuse can diminish its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

entirely mistaken

Replaces "radically" with "entirely", emphasizing the completeness of the error.

completely wrong

Uses simpler language to convey the idea of being fundamentally incorrect.

utterly misguided

Focuses on the flawed guidance or direction resulting from the mistake.

profoundly incorrect

Highlights the depth and significance of the mistake.

fundamentally flawed

Emphasizes that the mistake is rooted in a basic or essential problem.

grossly inaccurate

Indicates a large and obvious deviation from the truth.

seriously misinformed

Focuses on the lack of correct information leading to the mistake.

way off base

An informal idiom indicating a significant error in understanding or judgment.

barking up the wrong tree

An idiomatic expression meaning to pursue a mistaken or misguided course of action.

laboring under a misapprehension

Suggests a state of holding a false belief or understanding.

FAQs

How to use "radically mistaken" in a sentence?

You can use "radically mistaken" to describe beliefs, theories, or actions that are fundamentally wrong or misguided. For example: "His assumptions about the market were "radically mistaken", leading to significant financial losses."

What can I say instead of "radically mistaken"?

You can use alternatives like "completely wrong", "utterly misguided", or "fundamentally flawed" depending on the context.

Is "radically mistaken" more formal than "completely wrong"?

Yes, "radically mistaken" is generally considered more formal and emphasizes the significance of the error. "Completely wrong" is a more straightforward and less emphatic alternative.

What's the difference between "radically mistaken" and "slightly off"?

"Radically mistaken" implies a fundamental misunderstanding or error, whereas "slightly off" suggests a minor inaccuracy or deviation. The former has more severe consequences than the latter.