wrong impression

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wrong impression" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it when you want to describe how people are misunderstanding a certain person or situation. For example: "People have the wrong impression that she's a bad employee, but in fact, she's a hard worker."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That gives the wrong impression.

The Guardian

Don't carry off the wrong impression.

The New Yorker

"That sends the wrong impression.

The New York Times

"Farmer" gives the wrong impression.

The Guardian - Opinion

Don't get the wrong impression.

The New York Times

'Survive' gives the wrong impression.

The Guardian - Travel

"So, I was under the wrong impression.

The New York Times

The series will give the wrong impression".

Independent

But that would give the wrong impression.

The Guardian

"It did give the wrong impression.

The Guardian

They give everyone the wrong impression".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "under the wrong impression" when describing someone's ongoing state of misunderstanding rather than just the moment the impression was formed.

Common error

Do not use "at" or "with" when describing someone who is mistaken. While you might be "at odds", you are always "under the wrong impression".

Linguistic Context

In linguistic terms, "wrong impression" functions as a noun phrase typically serving as the direct object of a verb. Ludwig examples show it most frequently following verbs of transmission like "give", "create" or "send", or verbs of reception like "get" and "form".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

3%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wrong impression" is an essential tool in the English language for managing perceptions and clarifying intent. According to Ludwig AI, it is highly favored by authoritative sources like The New York Times and The New Yorker for its clarity and versatility. Whether you are writing a formal report or a casual message, using this phrase helps you navigate misunderstandings with precision. Remember to pair it with the correct prepositions—usually "under" or "with"—and consider synonyms like "<a href="/s/false+impression" target="_blank" rel="alternative">false impression" if you need to emphasize a lack of factual truth. Overall, it remains one of the most reliable ways to address the gap between what is seen and what is true.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

false impression

suggests a perception that is factually incorrect or lacks truth

mistaken impression

highlights that the error lies in the observer's judgment or conclusion

misleading impression

shifts focus to the cause, suggesting the evidence provided was confusing

incorrect impression

offers a slightly more formal or clinical tone to the misunderstanding

erroneous impression

uses a high-register adjective suitable for academic or legal contexts

inaccurate impression

focuses on a lack of precision or partial truth in the perception

distorted impression

suggests the reality has been warped or seen through a biased lens

deceptive impression

implies that the misunderstanding might have been intentional or tricky

faulty impression

implies the reasoning process behind the perception was broken

flawed impression

suggests the perception is incomplete or contains specific errors

FAQs

How to use "wrong impression" in a sentence?

You can use it to clarify a situation where someone has misunderstood you, such as: "I hope I didn't give you the wrong impression by leaving early."

What can I say instead of "wrong impression"?

Depending on your tone, you can use "<a href="/s/false+impression" target="_blank" rel="alternative">false impression", "<a href="/s/mistaken+impression" target="_blank" rel="alternative">mistaken impression" or "<a href="/s/misleading+impression" target="_blank" rel="alternative">misleading impression".

Which is correct, "give the wrong impression" or "make the wrong impression"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "<a href="/s/give+the+wrong+impression" target="_blank" rel="alternative">give the wrong impression" is much more common in idiomatic English than "make the wrong impression".

What is the difference between "wrong impression" and "wrong idea"?

A "wrong impression" usually refers to a general feeling or intuitive perception, while a "<a href="/s/wrong+idea" target="_blank" rel="alternative">wrong idea" often refers to a specific incorrect thought or plan.