shown to be incorrect

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shown to be incorrect" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that has been demonstrated or proven to be wrong or false. Example: "The initial hypothesis was shown to be incorrect after further testing revealed different results."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

46 human-written examples

This model is shown to be incorrect.

Catalysis Today

(Polymer, 1996, 37, 2291), which favour phase separation, are shown to be incorrect.

Polymer

Joubert's controversial decision to award Australia a penalty for an accidental Scotland offside was later shown to be incorrect.

The Guardian - Sport

Furthermore, editors and authors need to be forthcoming about correcting, or retracting, articles that have been shown to be incorrect.

Yale University

The common idea that stop-flow operation results in additional band broadening is shown to be incorrect.

Journal of Chromatography A

Unfortunately, they got a local chemist's bad advice about the conformation of the peptide bond and, in late 1950, published a paper soon shown to be incorrect.

MIT Technology Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

14 human-written examples

Kvitova questioned the call, which ESPN's Shot Spot technology showed to be incorrect.

The New York Times

The simplifying assumptions of identical hydrodynamical conditions at the same stirrer speed in one particular geometry, which have been made in some previous investigations, is shown to be wrong and may lead to incorrect conclusions on the influence of the diffusion coefficient.

Chemical Engineering Science

The predictions of criminal profilers were shown to be wildly incorrect, as the suspected snipers were an African American man and a Caribbean teenager.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"I believe there is a case for banning deliberately misleading material which can be shown to be factually incorrect," he said, referring to news stories that relied on fake data, such as the story that ran in Russian media saying a civilian plane was brought down by a Ukrainian aircraft, when investigations have since been proved it was destroyed by a Buk missile brought in from Russia.

The Guardian - Books

In addition, the practice of HMM using orthodox medicine has been shown to be largely incorrect in Nigeria [ 2, 13, 18].

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "shown to be incorrect", ensure the evidence supporting the refutation is clear and accessible to the reader. Provide context or citations to substantiate the claim.

Common error

Avoid using "shown to be incorrect" when the evidence is weak or ambiguous. Instead, use more nuanced language like "suggested to be inaccurate" or "potentially flawed" if the refutation is not definitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shown to be incorrect" functions as a passive construction indicating that a previous statement, theory, or belief has been proven or demonstrated to be wrong. Ludwig AI confirms this, providing examples from diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

25%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shown to be incorrect" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something has been proven wrong. Ludwig AI validates its usage across various contexts, including Science, News & Media, and Wiki. When employing this phrase, ensure the evidence supporting the refutation is clear and strong. While generally neutral, the phrase leans towards a more formal tone due to its frequent use in academic and scientific writing. Remember to avoid overstating the incorrectness if the evidence is weak; consider softer alternatives instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proven to be wrong

Replaces 'shown' with 'proven', emphasizing a more definitive demonstration of incorrectness.

demonstrated to be false

Uses 'demonstrated' and 'false' to highlight a clear and evident refutation.

established as untrue

Emphasizes the firm and accepted nature of the incorrectness.

found to be in error

Uses 'found' to indicate a discovery process leading to the determination of being incorrect.

revealed to be invalid

Focuses on the lack of validity after a process of unveiling.

turned out to be mistaken

Indicates a realization of being incorrect, often after some time or investigation.

subsequently disproven

Highlights that the disproving occurred after an initial acceptance or belief.

later refuted

Focuses on a formal denial or contradiction of a previous statement or idea.

belied by the facts

Indicates that the facts contradict the original claim, revealing it as incorrect.

proved unsustainable

Implies that a theory or practice could not be maintained or defended due to its incorrectness.

FAQs

How can I use "shown to be incorrect" in a sentence?

You can use "shown to be incorrect" to indicate that a statement, theory, or belief has been proven wrong or false. For instance, "The initial hypothesis was "shown to be incorrect" after further experimentation".

What are some alternatives to saying "shown to be incorrect"?

Alternatives include phrases like "proven to be wrong", "demonstrated to be false", or "established as untrue", depending on the level of emphasis and formality you wish to convey.

Is it better to say "shown to be incorrect" or "proven to be incorrect"?

Both "shown to be incorrect" and "proven to be incorrect" are grammatically correct. "Proven" might suggest a more definitive or rigorous demonstration of incorrectness, but the choice often depends on stylistic preference and context.

What's the difference between something being "incorrect" versus "shown to be incorrect"?

Something that is simply "incorrect" is wrong, but "shown to be incorrect" implies that there's been a demonstration or proof that it is wrong. It suggests an active process of refutation rather than a mere statement of wrongness.