wholly incorrect

USAGE SUMMARY

'wholly incorrect' is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to emphasize that something is fully, completely, or entirely wrong. For example: The professor claimed that my answer was wholly incorrect.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Such an insinuation is offensive and wholly incorrect.

The New York Times

The claims of the Tories that five million people are worse off by as much as £500 are wholly incorrect.

The Guardian

They are driven by a wholly incorrect interpretation - an extreme distortion - of the Islamic faith, which holds that mass murder and terror are not only acceptable, but necessary.

The Guardian

At the outset, I want to say that the suggestion made by the state in its opening that the struggle in South Africa is under the influence of foreigners or communists is wholly incorrect.

The Guardian

Unkind people might observe that al-Qaeda is an NGO, and one with extraordinarily high levels of social capital.Robert WadeLondon School of Economics LondonChildrens televisionSIR – To assume that the BBC is dictated to by commercial pressures when making children's programmes is wholly incorrectelevisionSIRcrowd", SepTomber 15th).

The Economist

As part of this call, the actuarial methodology upon which pension accounting is based has been criticized as being wholly incorrect and responsible for concealing that health.

Accounting, Organizations and Society

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Marc Andreessen: Completely, completely incorrect.

TechCrunch

A spokesperson for the Department of Health said: "It is completely incorrect to suggest Change4life has been captured by business, and wholly misses the point that the government can achieve more, more quickly, by working with industry.

The Guardian

Entirely incorrect.

Huffington Post

That is completely incorrect!

Vice

"He is wholly wrong.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wholly incorrect" to express strong disagreement with a statement or idea, particularly when you believe it's based on flawed reasoning or misinformation.

Common error

Avoid using "wholly incorrect" in casual conversations or informal writing. Its formal tone can sound overly critical or pretentious in everyday situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wholly incorrect" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to indicate that something is entirely or completely wrong. This is supported by Ludwig, which confirms its usability in written English and provides examples of its use in context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wholly incorrect" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in written English, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as an adjective phrase to emphatically express that something is entirely wrong. While typically found in neutral to formal contexts like news, science, and formal business communications, it should be used judiciously in informal settings to avoid sounding overly critical. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in refuting claims, interpretations, and methodologies. Alternatives like "completely wrong" or "totally inaccurate" can be used for similar emphasis in less formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Completely wrong

Emphasizes the absolute absence of correctness.

Totally inaccurate

Highlights the lack of precision or fidelity to facts.

Entirely mistaken

Focuses on the error in understanding or perception.

Flatly untrue

Underscores the direct contradiction to the truth.

Absolutely false

Stresses the complete absence of truth or validity.

Patently wrong

Highlights the obvious and easily demonstrable incorrectness.

Demonstrably false

Implies that the incorrectness can be proven.

Utterly fallacious

Emphasizes the deceptive and misleading nature of the statement.

Grossly misinformed

Highlights a severe lack of information or understanding.

In total error

Highlights the completeness of the error.

FAQs

How can I use "wholly incorrect" in a sentence?

You can use "wholly incorrect" to strongly refute a statement or idea. For example: "The professor claimed that my answer was "wholly incorrect"." or "His interpretation of the data was "wholly incorrect"."

What are some alternatives to saying "wholly incorrect"?

Alternatives include "completely wrong", "totally inaccurate", or "entirely mistaken". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "wholly incorrect" or "completely incorrect"?

"Wholly incorrect" and "completely incorrect" are largely interchangeable, but "wholly incorrect" is more formal and emphasizes the total absence of correctness. "Completely incorrect" is more common in everyday language.

What does "wholly" mean in the phrase "wholly incorrect"?

In this context, "wholly" means entirely or completely. It intensifies the adjective "incorrect", emphasizing that something is not just partially wrong but entirely wrong.