this looks wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this looks wrong" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to express doubt or concern about the accuracy or appropriateness of something you are observing. Example: "After reviewing the report, I must say, this looks wrong." Alternative expressions include "this seems incorrect" and "this appears off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

We think this looks wrong.

The Guardian - Business

In the wake of the 2008 crisis, this looks wrong from soup to nuts: the Fed can't even control broad money, because it can add to bank reserves and they just sit there; and money in turn bears little relationship to GDP.

The New York Times

As Ereshefsky (2009) puts it, Boorse assumes that statistical normality coincides with the kind of normality that medicine cares about, but this looks wrong.

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

If you can't do it there, then the rest of this just looks wrong.

The New York Times

This claim now looks wrong.

The New York Times

This was, as I said, a move toward realism (although it looks wrong in the light of recent experience).

The New York Times

It just looks wrong".

The New York Times

That idea looks wrong again.

The New York Times

Something about it looks wrong.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It looks wrong to us".

The Guardian

He would look at me and say: "What looks wrong?

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this looks wrong" when you want to express a subjective feeling that something is not as it should be, based on visual assessment or general impression. It's suitable when a more definitive statement of error might be premature.

Common error

Avoid using "this looks wrong" in highly formal or professional settings where a more precise and objective assessment is expected. Instead, opt for phrases like "the data appears inconsistent" or "there seems to be a discrepancy".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this looks wrong" functions primarily as an expression of subjective assessment. It communicates that something appears incorrect or out of place, based on visual observation or general impression. Ludwig AI confirms this as an acceptable phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

22%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this looks wrong" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a subjective feeling that something appears incorrect or out of place. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. While relatively infrequent, the phrase appears in various contexts, including news, science, and general writing. When more formality or precision is needed, alternatives like "this appears incorrect" or "there seems to be a discrepancy" might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this appears incorrect

Replaces "looks" with "appears" and "wrong" with "incorrect", providing a slightly more formal tone.

this doesn't seem right

Uses "doesn't seem right" instead of "looks wrong", emphasizing a sense of unease or doubt.

this seems amiss

Substitutes "looks wrong" with "seems amiss", suggesting something is out of place or not quite right.

there's something not quite right here

Emphasizes a general sense of unease or irregularity.

this seems off

Replaces "looks wrong" with "seems off", offering a more informal and vague indication of something being incorrect.

this is questionable

Focuses on the doubtfulness or uncertainty of the observation.

something seems fishy here

Adds a stronger element of suspicion or deception compared to the original phrase.

I suspect something is wrong

Shifts the focus to the speaker's suspicion, making it a personal assessment.

this gives me pause

Indicates the observation causes hesitation or concern, a more subtle version.

this raises concerns

Highlights that the observation is worrisome.

FAQs

What does "this looks wrong" mean?

The phrase "this looks wrong" expresses a subjective impression that something appears to be incorrect, inaccurate, or inappropriate based on visual observation or general assessment. It suggests a sense of unease or doubt about the correctness of something.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "this looks wrong"?

It's appropriate to use "this looks wrong" in informal or semi-formal contexts when you want to express a subjective feeling that something is not right, without necessarily having concrete evidence. It is often used when a more definitive statement might be premature.

What are some alternatives to "this looks wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "this appears incorrect", "this seems amiss", or "something seems fishy here" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is "this looks wrong" grammatically correct?

Yes, "this looks wrong" is grammatically correct. "This" is a pronoun, "looks" is a linking verb, and "wrong" is an adjective that describes the subject. The phrase follows standard English grammar rules.