was totally wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was totally wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something was completely incorrect or misguided in a past context. Example: "The conclusion drawn from the data was totally wrong, leading to significant misunderstandings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Turned out, I was totally wrong".

The New York Times

I was totally wrong," he wrote in an e-mail.

The New York Times

"How happy to know that I was totally wrong".

The New York Times

Last time I told you, I was totally wrong".

The Guardian - Sport

And she was totally wrong, because that's the thing I remember the best.

The New York Times

"What they did was totally wrong," Mr. Bhandari said in an interview.

The New York Times

I just felt that what they were asking me to do was totally wrong.

The Guardian

"This was totally wrong!" Sandra said that Jahi had not "got the treatment she deserved".

The New Yorker

To continue the great theme of 2017, I was totally wrong.

The New Yorker

"The original evaluation of those loans was totally wrong," he said.

The New York Times

Mr. Bloomberg fired back, telling reporters during an event on Wednesday that Dr. Tisch was "totally wrong on the facts".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was totally wrong" to directly and emphatically state that a previous assumption, statement, or action was incorrect. It's best used when highlighting a clear and significant error.

Common error

While "was totally wrong" is acceptable, excessive use of "totally" can sound informal. In formal writing, consider stronger alternatives like "completely incorrect" or "entirely mistaken" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was totally wrong" functions as a predicative adjective phrase. It modifies the subject of the sentence, indicating a state of being incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was totally wrong" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to emphatically state that something was incorrect. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is accurate and usable in written English. While suitable for most contexts, stronger alternatives may be preferred in highly formal writing. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources and should be used to highlight clear and significant errors. When writing, ensure that the emphatic nature of "totally" fits the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was completely mistaken

Emphasizes the error in understanding or perception.

was entirely incorrect

Focuses on the factual inaccuracy of something.

was absolutely false

Highlights the lack of truth or validity.

was in complete error

States unequivocally that a mistake has been made.

was utterly misguided

Suggests a flawed direction or approach.

was far from the truth

Implies a significant deviation from reality.

was a gross misjudgment

Indicates a severe error in assessment.

was wide of the mark

Suggests a failure to achieve accuracy or relevance.

was a complete fallacy

Highlights the deceptive or misleading nature of something.

was based on false premises

Indicates that the foundation of an argument or belief was flawed.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "was totally wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "was completely mistaken", "was entirely incorrect", or "was absolutely false" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "was totally wrong"?

Yes, the phrase "was totally wrong" is grammatically correct. "Was" is the past tense of the verb "to be", and "totally" is an adverb modifying the adjective "wrong".

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "was totally wrong"?

It is appropriate to use the phrase "was totally wrong" when you want to emphasize that something was completely incorrect. It is suitable for both informal and semi-formal contexts, as Ludwig confirms.

Are there contexts where "was totally wrong" might not be suitable?

In highly formal or academic writing, consider using stronger or more precise alternatives like "completely incorrect", "entirely mistaken", or "categorically false" for a more professional tone.