wholly erroneous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wholly erroneous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is completely incorrect or false. Example: "The report was found to be wholly erroneous, leading to significant misunderstandings."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

"Recent media statements by one of her attorneys alleging that she was mistreated are wholly erroneous," Mr. Starr said.

The New York Times

In Rogers v. Richmond, supra, the Court, upon finding that the state trial judge applied a wholly erroneous standard of voluntariness, ordered a new trial.

Cornell University

Thus far, talks have been conducted behind closed doors only, creating the damaging and wholly erroneous impression that there is something to hide.

Independent

Sadly, this is a wholly erroneous and very English way of thinking - driven, I believe, by the Romantic poets (better hills than profits) and snobbery (it's people in trade who care about profits).

The Guardian - Opinion

Similarly, the Independent editorial refers to talks "conducted behind closed doors" having created "the damaging and wholly erroneous impression that there is something to hide", and adds: "It is time for the media to set out its position more clearly".

The Guardian

Nor do the facts of his case raise the question whether in a case where the debts of the shareholder do not equal the assessors' value of his shares, the tax is wholly erroneous, or only so much as represent the assessment of his indebtedness that should have been deducted, for his affidavit was that his debts equalled the value of his bank shares.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

This is totally erroneous.

The Economist

But that's totally erroneous.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

A statement issued by the agency said: "The assertion that Saudi Arabia used Interpol's system in this case is wholly misleading and erroneous". Interpol, the statement said, "has not been involved in the case involving a Saudi blogger arrested in Malaysia and deported to Saudi Arabia.

The Guardian

With respect to the § 1 count, he excluded the evidence altogether on the erroneous ground that the failing company defense was wholly unavailable to participants in the kind of joint operating agreement involved in this case.

Cornell University

EMS personnel who subscribe to any of these erroneous beliefs may not wholly understand the nature of the crime of domestic violence.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wholly erroneous", ensure that the context clearly demonstrates the complete and undeniable nature of the error. Avoid using it for minor inaccuracies or subjective disagreements.

Common error

Avoid using "wholly erroneous" to describe slight mistakes or debatable points. This phrase is best reserved for situations where the information is demonstrably and completely false, preventing exaggeration and maintaining credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wholly erroneous" functions as an adjective phrase that modifies a noun, emphasizing the complete inaccuracy or falsehood of something. It's used to express strong disagreement with a statement or information presented, as shown by Ludwig AI.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

29%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "wholly erroneous" is used to describe something that is completely incorrect or false. It's a grammatically correct adjective phrase with Neutral register that appears most frequently in news and media, academic and science contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it is important to use it when the context clearly demonstrates the complete nature of the error. Be careful of overstating minor inaccuracies with "wholly erroneous". Some alternatives include "completely incorrect", "entirely mistaken" and "utterly false".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Completely incorrect

Replaces "wholly" with "completely", emphasizing the total lack of correctness.

Absolutely inaccurate

Replaces "erroneous" with "inaccurate" and "wholly" with "absolutely", emphasizing the lack of accuracy.

Utterly false

Replaces "erroneous" with "false" and "wholly" with "utterly", highlighting the untruthfulness.

Entirely mistaken

Substitutes "erroneous" with "mistaken" and "wholly" with "entirely", maintaining a similar level of formality.

In complete error

Uses a prepositional phrase to convey the idea of being entirely wrong.

Totally wrong

Uses a more informal term, "totally", to convey the idea of complete error.

Patently untrue

Uses "patently" to indicate obvious falsehood, offering a slightly stronger emphasis.

Dead wrong

Employs a more colloquial expression to indicate a complete lack of correctness.

Grossly misleading

Focuses on the misleading nature of the error, rather than just its incorrectness.

Fundamentally flawed

Highlights that the error stems from a basic or essential defect.

FAQs

What does "wholly erroneous" mean?

The phrase "wholly erroneous" means completely incorrect or entirely false. It emphasizes that something is not just slightly off, but fundamentally wrong.

What are some synonyms for "wholly erroneous"?

Alternatives to "wholly erroneous" include "completely incorrect", "entirely mistaken", and "utterly false". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired tone.

How formal is the phrase "wholly erroneous"?

"Wholly erroneous" is a fairly formal phrase. In more casual contexts, you might prefer saying something is "totally wrong" or "dead wrong".

Can "wholly erroneous" be used for opinions?

While you can technically use "wholly erroneous" to describe an opinion, it's generally more appropriate to use it for factual statements. Saying an opinion is "wholly erroneous" can sound confrontational. Consider using phrases like "fundamentally disagree" or "hold a different view" instead.