was totally off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was totally off" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to express that something was entirely mistaken or incorrect. For example: "My original calculation was totally off; I was wrong by a factor of 10."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

I was totally off on that.

Huffington Post

When the time came to gift my "part" and we sat down together to play, I was totally "off" on my counting, my fingering and my overall "read" of the music.

Huffington Post

"This was totally off the walls radical," Melton said.

Independent

"That was totally off my radar, Jenny," he said.

The New York Times

"It was totally off the record," Mr. Silverman said.

The New York Times - Arts

He said some profound shit, man, but he was totally off his head.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

"We wanted to make sure that students weren't coming here doing something that was totally off-track from what they were doing in their own school," Ms. Commitante said in a recent interview.

The New York Times

It was totally off-campus.

Los Angeles Times

It was totally off-the-wall, if you will, for any Sinatra album.

Huffington Post

"Well, their predictions were totally off," he wrote.

The New Yorker

As Dean says, the arithmetic is totally off — almost two orders of magnitude off.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was totally off" when you want to express that something was completely wrong or inaccurate. Be mindful of the context to ensure it aligns with the intended meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "was totally off" in highly formal or professional settings where a more refined vocabulary is expected. Alternatives like "was entirely mistaken" or "was completely inaccurate" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was totally off" primarily functions as a predicate adjective phrase. It modifies a subject by asserting that something was entirely incorrect or inaccurate. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was totally off" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to convey that something was entirely incorrect or inaccurate. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate in various contexts, though it might be less suitable for highly formal or academic settings. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as general online content, related phrases like "was completely mistaken" or "was entirely wrong" can offer a more refined tone when needed. Understanding its function and register ensures effective communication across different platforms.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was completely mistaken

Emphasizes the error in judgment or understanding.

was entirely wrong

Highlights the incorrectness of a statement or belief.

was way off base

Indicates a significant departure from accuracy or relevance.

was far from the truth

Stresses the distance from reality or accuracy.

was a complete miscalculation

Focuses on the error in a calculation or prediction.

was barking up the wrong tree

Implies pursuing an incorrect course of action or assumption.

was on the wrong track

Suggests a deviation from the correct path or approach.

was out of line

Suggests being inappropriate or exceeding acceptable boundaries.

was beside the point

Indicates irrelevance to the current discussion or issue.

was wide of the mark

Means inaccurate or off-target.

FAQs

What does "was totally off" mean?

The phrase "was totally off" means something was completely incorrect, inaccurate, or mistaken.

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

You can use "was totally off" to indicate that a calculation, assumption, or piece of information was entirely wrong. For example, "My initial estimate for the project timeline "was totally off"."

What are some alternatives to "was totally off"?

Alternatives include phrases such as "was completely mistaken", "was entirely wrong", or "was way off base" depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "was totally off" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "was totally off" might be considered too informal for certain professional or academic contexts. Consider using more formal alternatives such as "was entirely inaccurate" or "was significantly miscalculated".