was very wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was very wrong" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that something was incorrect or inappropriate in a past context. Example: "His decision to ignore the warnings was very wrong and led to serious consequences."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That was very wrong.

Independent

Something was very wrong.

The New York Times

I was very wrong.

The Guardian

But I was very wrong.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Clearly, something was very wrong.

The New York Times - Sports

If so, he was very wrong.

The New York Times

"We saw that something was very wrong".

The New York Times

She said something was very wrong.

The New Yorker

– It was very wrong of him.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Something is very wrong.

The New York Times - Sports

I'm very wrong.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was very wrong" when you want to clearly state that a past action, belief, or statement was incorrect or inappropriate. It conveys a strong sense of error.

Common error

While "was very wrong" is acceptable, consider stronger, more precise alternatives like "was entirely incorrect" or "was completely mistaken" for greater impact and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was very wrong" functions as a declarative statement expressing that something in the past was incorrect or inappropriate. It is used to convey a judgment or assessment about a past event, decision, or belief, as confirmed by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Science

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was very wrong" is a common and grammatically correct way to express that something in the past was incorrect or inappropriate. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, especially in news and media. While acceptable, consider using stronger alternatives like "entirely incorrect" for a greater impact. Remember to be clear and direct in your assessment, avoiding overuse of "very" for better writing clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was significantly mistaken

Emphasizes the degree of error in judgment or understanding.

was quite incorrect

Uses "incorrect" instead of "wrong", suggesting factual inaccuracy.

was seriously in error

Formal alternative emphasizing the gravity of the mistake.

demonstrated a major miscalculation

Focuses on the act of miscalculating, implying a flawed process.

proved to be highly inaccurate

Highlights the lack of accuracy after an assessment or outcome.

was a grave error

Short, impactful phrase stressing the significance of the error.

was far from the truth

Expresses that something was distant from reality.

utterly misjudged the situation

Implies a complete failure to understand or assess a circumstance correctly.

was based on a faulty premise

Highlights the problem was related to having wrong assumptions from the start.

completely missed the mark

An idiomatic way to convey that something was entirely off-target or unsuccessful.

FAQs

How can I use "was very wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "was very wrong" to express that a past action, belief, or statement was incorrect. For example, "His assumption "was very wrong", leading to unexpected consequences."

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

You can use alternatives like "was quite incorrect", "was significantly mistaken", or "was seriously in error" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "was wrong" or "was very wrong"?

While both are grammatically correct, "was very wrong" emphasizes the extent of the error. The choice depends on how strongly you want to convey the idea of incorrectness.

What's the difference between "was wrong" and "was mistaken"?

"Was wrong" generally implies a factual error or incorrectness. "Was mistaken" suggests an error in judgment or understanding. For example, "The forecast "was wrong" about the rain", versus "I "was mistaken" about his intentions."