turned out to be wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "turned out to be wrong" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used when something was believed or assumed to be true, but later was found to be incorrect. Example: I was convinced that my team would win the game, but it turned out to be wrong when they lost by a landslide.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Marx turned out to be wrong.

The New York Times - Books

Many turned out to be wrong.

The New York Times

Well, that turned out to be wrong.

The New York Times - Books

This turned out to be wrong.

The New Yorker

That turned out to be wrong.

The Economist

This theory turned out to be wrong.

The Economist

Those predictions turned out to be wrong.

The New York Times

I turned out to be wrong.

The New York Times - Books

He turned out to be wrong.

The Economist

Both reports turned out to be wrong.

The New York Times

That assumption turned out to be wrong.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "turned out to be wrong" when something was initially believed to be true but was later proven incorrect. It implies a process of discovery or realization.

Common error

Avoid using "turned out to be wrong" for purely subjective opinions. This phrase is best suited for factual claims or predictions that have been disproven, not matters of personal taste or preference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "turned out to be wrong" functions as a predicate adjective phrase. It describes a subject by asserting that it was initially believed to be correct but was later found to be incorrect. Ludwig provides many examples from reliable sources to illustrate this function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "turned out to be wrong" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that something initially believed to be true was later discovered to be incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use, particularly in news, academia, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, it's essential to apply it to factual claims or predictions that have been disproven rather than subjective opinions. Alternatives include "proved to be incorrect" and "was found to be false", providing similar meanings in different contexts. By understanding its usage and purpose, writers can effectively communicate revisions of beliefs and expectations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

proved to be incorrect

Replaces "turned out" with "proved", emphasizing the demonstration of being wrong.

was found to be false

Focuses on the discovery of falsehood rather than the process of becoming wrong.

turned out to be a mistake

Substitutes "wrong" with "a mistake", highlighting the error aspect.

proved to be an error

Uses 'error' instead of 'wrong', adding a formal tone.

was ultimately disproven

Emphasizes the finality of the disproving process.

eventually proved false

Highlights the eventual discovery of being false.

was later contradicted

Focuses on the contradiction of the initial statement or belief.

became evident that it was wrong

Highlights the gradual revealing of the incorrectness.

the assumption was incorrect

Highlights the assumption that was mistaken.

the hypothesis was refuted

Highlights the scientific hypothesis that was proven wrong.

FAQs

How can I use "turned out to be wrong" in a sentence?

Use "turned out to be wrong" to indicate that something initially thought to be true was later proven false. For example, "The prediction about the stock market "turned out to be wrong"".

What are some alternatives to saying "turned out to be wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "proved to be incorrect", "was found to be false", or "proved to be an error" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "have turned out to be wrong"?

Yes, "have turned out to be wrong" is grammatically correct. It's the present perfect form, indicating that something believed to be true in the past has since been proven incorrect. For example, "His assumptions "have turned out to be wrong"".

What's the difference between "turned out to be wrong" and "was wrong"?

"Turned out to be wrong" implies a process of discovery or a change in understanding. "Was wrong" is a more direct statement that something was incorrect without necessarily highlighting the shift in perception. For example, a scientist might say, "My initial hypothesis "turned out to be wrong" after further experimentation", rather than just saying "it was wrong".