wrong for

USAGE SUMMARY

"wrong for" is a perfectly acceptable part of a sentence in written English.
It is usually used to indicate that something is inappropriate or not suitable for a given situation. For example: "That dress is totally wrong for the occasion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wrong for the Village.

The New York Times

"Wrong for Massachusetts".

The New York Times

Wrong for NYU".

The New York Times

What went wrong for Republicans?

The New York Times

Everything was wrong for us.

Independent

He is wrong, for two reasons.

The Economist

The man was wrong for me.

The New York Times

His name's all wrong for starters.

The New York Times - Books

But the house was wrong for me.

The New York Times

So what could go wrong for Asia?

The New York Times

Kelvin was wrong for two reasons.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wrong for", ensure the context clearly defines what the subject is unsuitable for. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "wrong for" without specifying the reason. Saying "This is wrong for me" is vague. Instead, clarify why: "This job is wrong for me because it requires frequent travel."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wrong for" functions as a predicative adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It expresses that something is inappropriate, unsuitable, or not a good match for a particular context, person, or situation. Ludwig provides numerous examples showing how it's used to denote a lack of fitness or alignment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wrong for" is a versatile phrase used to indicate that something is unsuitable or inappropriate. As highlighted by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. The phrase functions as a predicative adjective phrase, expressing a mismatch or lack of fitness. When using "wrong for", it's important to provide context to clarify the reason for the unsuitability. While alternatives like "unsuitable for" and "inappropriate for" exist, "wrong for" maintains a neutral register suitable for various communication styles. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its common usage in expressing subjective judgments about compatibility or appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsuitable for

This alternative directly replaces "wrong" with "unsuitable", emphasizing the lack of appropriateness.

inappropriate for

Similar to "unsuitable", this highlights the lack of suitability based on context or standards.

ill-suited to

This alternative emphasizes the poor match between something and a specific purpose or situation.

mismatched with

Focuses on the incompatibility or lack of harmony between two things.

not right for

A more informal alternative, indicating a lack of fit or appropriateness.

detrimental to

This suggests that something is actively harmful or damaging, rather than merely unsuitable.

incompatible with

This highlights the inability of two things to exist or function together harmoniously.

not a good fit for

Emphasizes the lack of a harmonious relationship or alignment.

contrary to

Suggests opposition or conflict, rather than simple unsuitability.

adverse to

This implies an opposing or unfavorable relationship, often with a negative consequence.

FAQs

How can I use "wrong for" in a sentence?

You can use "wrong for" to express that something is unsuitable or inappropriate for a particular purpose, person, or situation. For example, "That shirt is "wrong for a formal event"" or "This job is "wrong for my skillset"".

What are some alternatives to saying "wrong for"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "unsuitable for", "inappropriate for", "ill-suited to", or "not a good fit for".

Is it better to say "wrong for" or "wrong with"?

The correct phrase is "wrong for". "Wrong with" typically implies a problem or malfunction, while "wrong for" indicates unsuitability or inappropriateness. For example, "There's something "wrong with the car"" (malfunction) versus "This job is "wrong for me"" (unsuitable).

How does "wrong for" differ from "bad for"?

"Wrong for" indicates something is unsuitable or inappropriate, while "bad for" implies something is harmful or detrimental. For example, "That color is "wrong for the room"" (unsuitable) versus "Smoking is "bad for your health"" (harmful).