under the false impression

USAGE SUMMARY

"under the false impression" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is typically used when someone believes something to be true that is not actually accurate. For example, "John was under the false impression that she still loved him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Westlands was also under the false impression that Rawlinson was a chief examiner.

The Guardian

I was under the false impression that beauty was in the eye of the beholder.

The New Yorker

But even then, under the false impression of a post-racial America, Knowles felt like something wasn't quite right.

The Guardian - Music

I was under the false impression that both the United States and Israel wanted democracy in the Middle East.

The New York Times

That player has subsequently moved, for significant money, with the buying club under the false impression they were beating United to him.

The Guardian - Sport

Frayn, under the false impression that Tomalin was writing a literary diary of some sort, went to extravagant lengths to think of "witty and striking things to say".

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

The Gore campaign charged in a statement that "using Washington-fuzzy math, Bush tried to create the false impression that under Clinton-Gore the budget on the war on drugs had been slashed".

The New York Times

Empathy-washing initiatives create the false impression that the crisis is under control, with individual ingenuity, finally unlocked by privatised technologies, compensating for the rapidly deteriorating situation on the ground.

The Guardian - Opinion

This gave the false impression that it enjoyed official backing.

The Economist

One hopes for prescience and fears the false impression.

The New York Times - Arts

France (World ranking: 8 Points: 79.10): France have become harder to beat under Jacques Brunel, which even the All Blacks found in the summer despite a 3-0 series victory that on paper gives the false impression of being a romp.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "under the false impression", ensure you clearly state what the correct information or situation is to avoid any ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "under the false impression" when intentional deception is involved. If someone was deliberately misled, phrases like "deceived" or "misled" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "under the false impression" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a state of mistaken belief. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "under the false impression" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate that someone holds an incorrect belief. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for general use. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts but also has usage in science and formal writing. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by explicitly stating the correct information. Alternative phrases, such as "mistakenly believed" or "falsely assumed", can provide simpler or more direct alternatives depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

under a misapprehension

Similar in meaning, but uses a more formal term, "misapprehension", for misunderstanding.

under the wrong assumption

Emphasizes that the foundation of the belief is an incorrect assumption.

mistakenly believed

Focuses on the action of believing incorrectly, rather than the state of being under a false impression.

falsely assumed

Highlights the act of assuming something that is not true.

incorrectly thought

A more direct and simple way of stating a mistaken belief.

laboring under a delusion

Implies a stronger, more persistent false belief, often irrational.

misled into thinking

Indicates an external influence caused the false belief.

operating under a fallacy

Suggests a logical error or flawed reasoning is the basis of the false belief.

deceived into believing

Stronger than "misled", suggesting intentional deception.

entertaining a false notion

Highlights that the false belief is a concept or idea being considered.

FAQs

How can I use "under the false impression" in a sentence?

You can use "under the false impression" to describe a situation where someone believes something that is not true. For example, "He was "under the false impression" that the meeting had been cancelled."

What's a simpler way to say "under the false impression"?

Alternatives include phrases like "mistakenly believed", or "falsely assumed", which convey a similar meaning in a more direct way.

What is the difference between "under the false impression" and "mistakenly believe"?

"Under the false impression" describes a state of mind, while "mistakenly believe" focuses on the action of believing. The phrase "under the false impression" often implies a broader misunderstanding, whereas "mistakenly believe" can refer to a specific factual error.

Is it grammatically correct to say "under a false impression"?

Yes, both "under the false impression" and "under a false impression" are grammatically correct, although "under the false impression" is more common and idiomatic.