utterly mistaken

USAGE SUMMARY

"utterly mistaken" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is completely wrong or incorrect. Example sentence: "John was utterly mistaken when he thought he could pass the exam without studying."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

The title of your piece is utterly mistaken.

University of California, Berkeley

If Tony Blair thought that the Hutton inquiry would draw a line under the Kelly affair, he was utterly mistaken.

The Guardian

… Daniel Emery, Oconomowoc, Wis.: The suggestion that the upper class simply outcompetes the working class is utterly mistaken.

The New York Times

The basic assumption made in 1948 that demand would decline as the nation's health improved turned out to be utterly mistaken.

The Economist

The sad thing about Black's speech, among many happy things, is that it shows you can be passionate, sincere and inspiring, but also utterly mistaken.

The Guardian - Opinion

However, I think that they are utterly mistaken in suggesting that a reasonable solution is for all Americans to work until 69 or 70 simply because the average life expectancy has increased since the 1970s.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

"She is no fool, this woman, no sluggard in criticism", wrote the critic, appalled at an industry utterly mistaking what mothers and housewives wanted to see at the cinema.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

No one wants to feel like this ― to be so utterly and publicly mistaken.

HuffPost

To compare that country to a sick man or an old tree was an "utterly unphilosophical mistake," he said, since a nation could adopt mechanical means of self-renovation.

The New York Times

This crémant is utterly delightful and could easily be mistaken for Champagne with its racy vibrance and mousse-like texture.

Forbes

And it would all have been utterly misguided, a mistake from beginning to end, misinformed by a fluke of personal experience.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "utterly mistaken" to express a strong disagreement or to highlight the complete inaccuracy of a statement or belief. This phrase is useful when you want to emphasize the degree to which someone is wrong.

Common error

While "utterly mistaken" is generally acceptable, consider using more nuanced or formal language in academic or professional writing. Phrases like "completely incorrect" or "demonstrably false" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "utterly mistaken" functions primarily as an adjectival modifier. It intensifies the adjective "mistaken", indicating a complete and absolute state of being wrong. As per Ludwig AI, this usage is grammatically correct and appears in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "utterly mistaken" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that serves to strongly emphasize the incorrectness of something. According to Ludwig AI, it is useful when highlighting the degree to which someone is wrong. While versatile, it's register is neutral and it is important to consider the context and audience when choosing between it and more formal alternatives such as "patently erroneous". As evidenced by the provided Ludwig examples, this phrase appears frequently in News & Media and Academia.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely wrong

Replaces "mistaken" with "wrong" emphasizing the incorrectness.

entirely incorrect

Substitutes "utterly" with "entirely" for emphasis on the complete lack of correctness.

absolutely false

Uses "false" instead of "mistaken" focusing on the untruthfulness of something.

dead wrong

An informal way to express being completely mistaken.

wholly inaccurate

Replaces both words to highlight a total lack of accuracy.

seriously misguided

Shifts the focus to the poor judgment or reasoning behind the mistake.

patently erroneous

A formal way of saying obviously mistaken.

manifestly untrue

Emphasizes the obvious nature of the mistake or falsehood.

laboring under a misapprehension

Focuses on the misunderstanding that leads to being mistaken.

under a complete delusion

Implies a stronger level of self-deception than simply being mistaken.

FAQs

How can I use "utterly mistaken" in a sentence?

You can use "utterly mistaken" to emphasize the complete inaccuracy of a statement or belief, such as: "He was "utterly mistaken" about the cause of the problem."

What are some alternatives to "utterly mistaken"?

Some alternatives include "completely wrong", "entirely incorrect", or "absolutely false", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "utterly mistaken" or "completely mistaken"?

"Utterly mistaken" and "completely mistaken" are largely interchangeable, with "utterly" potentially adding slightly more emphasis. The choice depends on personal preference and desired tone.

Can "utterly mistaken" be used in formal writing?

While acceptable, "utterly mistaken" might be considered less formal than alternatives such as "demonstrably false" or "patently erroneous" in highly formal or academic contexts.