wholly wrong

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'wholly wrong' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something is completely wrong. For example: We realized that we had been wholly wrong about our assessment of the situation.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He is wholly wrong.

Independent

They were not wholly wrong.

The Economist

This isn't wholly wrong.

The Guardian - Opinion

He was not wholly wrong.

The New York Times

This would be wholly wrong.

The Guardian

Recent research, however, shows that idea is wholly wrong.

The Guardian

As we all now know, that intelligence was wholly wrong.

The Guardian

Now the bad: the brief was wholly wrong.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

As usual, the story was almost wholly wrong.

The Guardian

Those who speak about the Dao (like Zhuangzi himself) are "wholly wrong.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The method was wholly wrong," says Gao Huiqing, an economist at the State Information Centre.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wholly wrong" to express complete disagreement or to indicate that an idea or statement is fundamentally flawed. It adds emphasis and clarity to your critique.

Common error

While "wholly wrong" is a valid phrase, it can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "totally wrong" or "completely off" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wholly wrong" functions as an adjectival modifier, intensifying the degree to which something is incorrect. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for emphasizing that something is completely mistaken. Examples from Ludwig show it used to refute claims and ideas.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wholly wrong" is a powerful phrase to express that something is completely incorrect. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its correct usage emphasizes total disagreement or a fundamental flaw. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, it can also appear in more formal academic settings. While grammatically sound and widely understood, remember that simpler alternatives may be more appropriate for informal settings. When you need to make a strong statement about something being entirely incorrect, "wholly wrong" is an effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

completely incorrect

Replaces "wholly" with "completely", maintaining the meaning of total incorrectness.

totally wrong

Replaces "wholly" with "totally", indicating a complete error.

entirely mistaken

Substitutes "wrong" with "mistaken" and "wholly" with "entirely", conveying the same comprehensive error.

utterly false

Uses "utterly" and "false" to emphasize the complete lack of truth.

absolutely incorrect

Employs "absolutely" to intensify the incorrectness.

patently false

Indicates that something is obviously and clearly false.

categorically wrong

Implies that something is wrong in every category or respect.

flat-out wrong

Emphasizes that something is straightforwardly and completely incorrect.

demonstrably false

Suggests that something's falsity can be proven.

dead wrong

Uses a more informal expression to denote absolute incorrectness.

FAQs

How to use "wholly wrong" in a sentence?

You can use "wholly wrong" to express complete disagreement or to indicate that an idea or statement is fundamentally flawed. For example: "His assumptions about the market were wholly wrong."

What can I say instead of "wholly wrong"?

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

Which is correct, "wholly wrong" or "partially wrong"?

Both phrases are correct, but they convey different meanings. "Wholly wrong" means completely incorrect, while "partially wrong" means only partly incorrect.

What's the difference between "wholly wrong" and "entirely wrong"?

The phrases "wholly wrong" and "entirely wrong" are largely synonymous and can be used interchangeably. Both emphasize a complete lack of correctness.