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this isn't right
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

This isn't right.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Again, this isn't right.

News & Media

The Guardian - Music

"I said: 'This isn't right.

News & Media

The New York Times

I say, this isn't right.

News & Media

The Guardian - Opinion

"I thought, 'This isn't right,' " he said.

News & Media

The New York Times - Sports

"I thought, 'This isn't right,'" he says.

News & Media

The Economist

"This isn't right, Matt," O'Farrell told him.

News & Media

The Guardian - Sport

"This isn't right," he said, speaking in Spanish.

News & Media

The New York Times

That this isn't right doesn't make it go away.

News & Media

The New York Times

"As a taxpayer, I'm just like, this isn't right".

News & Media

The New York Times

I know this isn't right, but I have risked it.

News & Media

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this isn't right" to convey a visceral or immediate reaction to an error. It works effectively in narrative writing and journalism to capture a subject's authentic voice when they encounter injustice or a mistake.

Common error

Avoid using "this isn't right" in scientific or technical reports where the nature of the error should be specified. Phrases like "the data is inconsistent" or "the hypothesis was disproven" are preferred over the somewhat vague and subjective nature of "this isn't right".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

96%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this isn't right" functions as a negative declarative statement. It consists of the demonstrative pronoun 'this' serving as the subject, followed by the contracted negative copula 'isn't' and the predicative adjective 'right'. According to Ludwig AI and the associated examples, it is a standard construction used to reject a premise or situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

Science

Less common in

Formal & Business

Social Media

Reference

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "this isn't right" is a powerful and efficient linguistic tool for flagging discrepancies. Ludwig AI data shows that it is overwhelmingly common in high-quality journalism, particularly when journalists quote individuals reacting to social injustice or technical failures. While it is grammatically perfect, its strength lies in its simplicity and the immediate emotional or logical clarity it provides. Writers should use it to signal an instinctive rejection of a situation, while perhaps opting for more technical synonyms like "<a href="/s/erroneous" target="_blank" rel="alternative">erroneous" in scientific manuscripts.

More alternative expressions(10)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

something is wrong

Shifts focus from the specific 'this' to a more general sense of error

this is not correct

The uncontracted version which adds a level of formal emphasis

this is incorrect

More formal and typically used for factual errors rather than moral ones

this doesn't feel right

Emphasizes an intuitive or gut feeling rather than a definitive fact

this isn't proper

Suggests a violation of etiquette or social standards

this isn't appropriate

Focuses on the unsuitability of an action for a specific context

this doesn't add up

Idiomatic way to express that facts are logically inconsistent

this is unjust

Specifically targets a lack of fairness or legal integrity

this is off

Informal way to suggest a discrepancy or a slight error

this isn't supposed to be like this

Highlights a deviation from an intended plan or design

FAQs

How do I use 'this isn't right' in a sentence?

You can use it to express immediate disagreement with a situation, such as: "I looked at the bill and realized <a href="/s/this+isn't+right" target="_blank" rel="alternative">this isn't right, they charged me twice."

What can I say instead of 'this isn't right'?

Depending on the context, you could use "<a href="/s/this+is+incorrect" target="_blank" rel="alternative">this is incorrect" for facts, or "<a href="/s/this+is+unfair" target="_blank" rel="alternative">this is unfair" for moral objections.

Is it better to use 'this isn't right' or 'this is not right'?

Use "this isn't right" for natural conversation and most journalism. Use "<a href="/s/this+is+not+right" target="_blank" rel="alternative">this is not right" when you want to be very formal or place heavy emphasis on the negation.

What is the difference between 'this isn't right' and 'this is wrong'?

While often interchangeable, "this isn't right" often sounds like a discovery of an error, whereas "<a href="/s/this+is+wrong" target="_blank" rel="alternative">this is wrong" can sound like a more definitive or moral judgment.

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Table of contents

Usage summary

Human-verified examples

Expert writing tips

Linguistic context

Ludwig's wrap-up

Alternative expressions

FAQs

Source & Trust

96%

Authority and reliability

4.9/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences:

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this isn't rightGrammar usage guide and real-world examples

this isn't right
Grammar usage guide and real-world examples