shockingly wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shockingly wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is surprisingly or disturbingly incorrect or inaccurate. Example: "The report contained several shockingly wrong statistics that misrepresented the data."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

There was something shockingly wrong about this, something that violated the basic laws of drama.

The Guardian - Film

If we all got it so shockingly wrong 150 and 100 years ago, and even 50 years ago, then why would we have got it right now?

The Guardian

Margaret Hodge, the chair of the Commons public accounts committee, has described the arrangement that allows the prince to pay no corportation tax on his Duchy of Cornwall income as "shockingly wrong".

The Guardian

Televisions that had been full of Saturday morning cartoons were alive with charts, drawings and the endless replays of the shuttle's shockingly wrong multiple vapor trails as it streaked at about 18 times the speed of sound toward a landing in Florida after a science mission.

The New York Times

Many Americans have yet to get the point that executing an unarmed African American is shockingly wrong.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In my own strange, roundabout way, I was becoming a convert to the cause of democracy at precisely the moment a huge swath of liberal Americans had suddenly decided that something was shockingly, horribly wrong with the system of government they had long taken for granted as the best in the world.

Vice

The evidence shows this is wrong – and shockingly so.

Independent

In a seminal 2002 research paper, Romer captured the attention of football writers, sports nerds and even Coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots after he crunched the numbers and concluded that N.F.L. coaches made the wrong decision a shockingly large percentage of the time.

The New York Times

My younger readers who are out there looking for love (apparently in all the wrong places) write shockingly candid posts about destructive relationships with husbands, boyfriends, and men they've met through dating sites.

Huffington Post

Shockingly, Noorul thinks it was the wrong decision.

The Guardian

Shockingly, Clemens was nearly incorrect.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "shockingly wrong", ensure the context makes it clear what the standard of correctness is. For example, "The data was shockingly wrong, deviating significantly from established scientific norms."

Common error

Avoid using "shockingly wrong" in situations where a simple "incorrect" or "wrong" would suffice. The phrase carries a strong emotional charge and is best reserved for situations where the error is truly surprising or disturbing.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial intensifier modifying an adjective. The phrase "shockingly wrong" serves to intensify the degree to which something is incorrect. The adverb "shockingly" emphasizes the surprising or disturbing nature of the error. As Ludwig AI suggests, the expression indicates a strong deviation from what is expected or correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "shockingly wrong" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, employed to express surprise or disapproval at something being markedly incorrect. As noted by Ludwig AI, it intensifies the degree to which something deviates from correctness. While rare in overall frequency, it appears consistently in news and media contexts. Alternatives such as ""appallingly incorrect"" or ""egregiously mistaken"" can be used depending on the specific nuance desired. When employing "shockingly wrong", consider the emotional weight it carries, reserving it for situations where the error is genuinely surprising or disturbing. In conclusion, while "shockingly wrong" is appropriate in a limited set of contexts, it should be carefully used to ensure that it's accurate and conveys the writer's intended emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appallingly incorrect

Replaces "shockingly" with "appallingly", emphasizing the degree of offensiveness or unacceptability.

unacceptably flawed

Focuses on the unacceptability of the errors or faults.

egregiously mistaken

Highlights the blatant and outstanding nature of the mistake.

outrageously false

Emphasizes the falseness and potential offense caused by the inaccuracy.

astoundingly inaccurate

Replaces "shockingly" with "astoundingly", highlighting the level of surprise at the inaccuracy.

remarkably off-base

Highlights the unexpected deviation from what is correct or accurate.

disturbingly erroneous

Focuses on the disturbing nature of the errors.

surprisingly misguided

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the poor judgment or understanding.

stunningly incorrect

Replaces "shockingly" with "stunningly" highlighting the shocking or surprising nature of the inaccuracy.

blatantly erroneous

Highlights the obvious and unconcealed nature of the error.

FAQs

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

You can use "shockingly wrong" to describe something that is surprisingly incorrect or inappropriate. For example, "The initial assessment of the damage was "shockingly wrong", leading to inadequate resource allocation."

What are some alternatives to "shockingly wrong"?

Alternatives include "appallingly incorrect", "unacceptably flawed", or "egregiously mistaken", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "shockingly wrong" formal or informal?

"Shockingly wrong" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for news articles and general writing. However, in highly formal or academic contexts, more precise language might be preferred, such as "substantially inaccurate" or "significantly erroneous".

What makes something "shockingly wrong" versus just "wrong"?

The addition of "shockingly" implies a level of surprise, disbelief, or outrage at the degree or nature of the incorrectness. It suggests that the error is not just wrong, but unexpectedly or disturbingly so.