wrong numbers

USAGE SUMMARY

"wrong numbers" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is often used to describe when a person dials a phone number incorrectly or receives a call from an incorrect number. Example: "I kept getting calls from wrong numbers after I changed my phone number."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Wrong numbers mean wrong policies.

The Economist

Talk story about wrong numbers.

The New Yorker

Lots of wrong numbers, actually.

The New York Times

But they've been using the wrong numbers".

The New York Times

More often, however, colours were paired with the "wrong" numbers.

The Economist

Microsoft's mobile business just keeps calling wrong numbers.

The Guardian - Tech

Co. no ironclad way of checking up on people who say they have got wrong numbers.

The New Yorker

has computed that out of every 1000 call made, 14 result in wrong numbers.

The New Yorker

The New York Republican's campaign put out sample ballots featuring wrong numbers.

The Guardian

Do you get many wrong numbers and post meant for the devil?

The Guardian

Countless other calls from Stockholm have been thwarted by wrong numbers and stubborn personal assistants.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wrong numbers" in technical contexts, ensure clarity. For example, in data analysis, clarify if it refers to incorrect input values or miscalculations.

Common error

Avoid using "wrong numbers" when referring to data errors in a broader sense. While it can apply to numerical mistakes, "incorrect data" is more appropriate for non-numerical errors or flawed datasets.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wrong numbers" typically functions as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. As shown by Ludwig, it refers to calls made to an unintended or incorrect telephone number.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wrong numbers" is a common and grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe calls made or received in error. As per Ludwig AI, the phrase appears frequently in News & Media, Science and Wiki contexts, indicating its broad applicability. When writing, it's important to distinguish between "wrong numbers" and the more general term "incorrect data". Using alternatives such as "misdialed calls" or "erroneous phone calls" can provide more specific or formal nuance. Remember to use the plural form when referencing multiple instances and the singular form when the reference is just one.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

mistaken numbers

A simple substitution, maintaining the core meaning with a slightly different word choice.

numbers dialed in error

Rephrases the concept emphasizing that the numbers were dialed by mistake.

incorrect digits

Focuses specifically on the digits being incorrect, not necessarily a phone number.

misdirected calls

Highlights the fact that the call ended up in the wrong place.

misdialed calls

Emphasizes the action of misdialing, framing the issue from the caller's perspective.

erroneous phone calls

Uses more formal language to describe calls resulting from errors.

unintended recipients

Shifts the focus to the recipient and the unintended nature of the call.

inaccurate dialing

Highlights the inaccuracy in the dialing process itself.

faulty connections

Suggests the problem lies in the connection rather than just the numbers dialed.

calls to the wrong extension

Specific to calls within an organization, missing the intended recipient.

FAQs

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

You can use "wrong numbers" to describe dialing errors, such as, "I keep getting calls from "wrong numbers" at night" or "The campaign sent out sample ballots featuring "wrong numbers"".

What is a more formal way to say "wrong numbers"?

While "wrong numbers" is generally acceptable, you could use "incorrect numbers" or "erroneous numbers" in more formal contexts.

What are some common situations that involve "wrong numbers"?

"Wrong numbers" are common when someone "misdials a phone number", when there are errors in phone directories, or due to number reassignments by phone companies.

Is there a difference between "wrong number" and "wrong numbers"?

"Wrong number" is singular and refers to a single instance, while "wrong numbers" is plural and refers to multiple instances. For example, "I received a "wrong number" call yesterday" versus "I received several calls from "wrong numbers" this week".