was definitely off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was definitely off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was incorrect, inaccurate, or not as expected. Example: "The timing of the event was definitely off, leading to confusion among the participants."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

"She was definitely off today.

Los Angeles Times

Adele can do no wrong, but something was definitely off during her Grammys performance on Monday night. .

Huffington Post

'I was definitely off my head on ecstasy for quite a few years,' he admits.

The Guardian - Film

"My equilibrium was definitely off balance for a while because it was so quiet here," Ms. Luminato said.

The New York Times

Whether it was the half-arsed time-travel plot, or the presence of Tony Robinson's full bum, something was definitely off.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It hit the glove – Hotspot now confirms that – but the glove was definitely off the bat handle when it did so.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It's definitely off.

The Guardian - Sport

"My rhythm is definitely off," Chandler said.

The New York Times - Sports

"The 'Plan B' color is definitely off," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

Bah! 6.16pm Okay, it's definitely off now.

The Guardian - Sport

"But when it's off, it's definitely off, and the last few days' reports haven't been good.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was definitely off" to express a clear and noticeable deviation from an expected or correct state. It's suitable for describing performance, accuracy, or condition.

Common error

Avoid using "definitely off" when a simple "was off" suffices. The "definitely" should add meaningful emphasis, not just fill space. Otherwise, your writing can come off as redundant or lacking subtlety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was definitely off" functions as a subject complement, describing a state or condition that deviates from an expected norm. As Ludwig AI states, it's grammatically sound and widely usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was definitely off" is a versatile phrase used to express that something didn't meet expectations or was incorrect in some way. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It's most common in news and media contexts, with a neutral to informal register. While "was definitely off" is acceptable in many situations, consider more formal alternatives such as "was patently incorrect" for professional or academic settings. Remember to use "definitely" to add meaningful emphasis and avoid redundancy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was certainly wrong

Changes "definitely" to "certainly" and "off" to "wrong", focusing on the incorrectness of something.

was clearly mistaken

Replaces "definitely off" with "clearly mistaken", highlighting an error in judgment or understanding.

was patently incorrect

Substitutes "definitely off" with "patently incorrect", emphasizing the obvious nature of the error.

was demonstrably false

Uses "demonstrably false" instead of "definitely off", stressing that something can be proven untrue.

was markedly amiss

Replaces "definitely off" with "markedly amiss", suggesting something was noticeably out of place or wrong.

was noticeably awry

Substitutes "definitely off" with "noticeably awry", indicating that something was visibly deviating from what was expected.

was plainly erroneous

Uses "plainly erroneous" instead of "definitely off", emphasizing that something is obviously wrong or inaccurate.

was distinctly flawed

Replaces "definitely off" with "distinctly flawed", focusing on the presence of imperfections or defects.

was undeniably faulty

Substitutes "definitely off" with "undeniably faulty", stressing the unquestionable presence of a defect or problem.

was assuredly defective

Uses "assuredly defective" instead of "definitely off", highlighting the certainty of a defect or malfunction.

FAQs

How can I use "was definitely off" in a sentence?

You can use "was definitely off" to indicate that something was incorrect, inaccurate, or not as expected. For example, "Her timing "was definitely off" during the presentation."

What can I say instead of "was definitely off"?

You can use alternatives like "was clearly wrong", "was certainly inaccurate", or "was markedly amiss" depending on the context.

Is it okay to use "was definitely off" in formal writing?

While "was definitely off" is acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "was patently incorrect" or "was demonstrably false" in professional or academic contexts to maintain a higher level of formality.

What's the difference between "was off" and "was definitely off"?

Adding "definitely" to "was off" emphasizes the degree to which something was incorrect or not as expected. "Was definitely off" suggests a more pronounced or noticeable deviation than simply saying "was off".