wrong on many levels

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wrong on many levels" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation, action, or belief that is flawed in multiple ways or aspects. For example, "The decision to cut funding for education is wrong on many levels." Alternative expressions include "incorrect in several ways" and "flawed on multiple fronts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

Peter Thiel: Well, it is the kind of caricature of capitalism that one sees in Hollywood where, I think the movie was wrong on many levels.

TechCrunch

This is wrong on many levels.

The New Yorker

"The 'downsize the ABC' protagonists, such as the IPA and Senator [Cory] Bernardi, are wrong on many levels," Scott said.

The Guardian

They know that what they are doing is wrong on many levels and that is a large part of why they like it.

The New York Times

Look, that stuff was improper and wrong on many levels, but there is no evidence that Sandy Weill didn't believe — let me state it affirmatively — there's evidence that he did believe that A.T. & T. was a good stock.

The New Yorker

Re "Pressed to Show Progress, Educators Tamper With Test Scores" ("Cheat Sheet" series, front page, June 11): Bonuses for teachers and administrators for improving student performance on standardized tests are wrong on many levels.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Sounds like the wrong thing happened on many levels," Musk tweeted.

Los Angeles Times

Honored on many levels.

The New York Times

Good things, on many levels.

The New York Times

It works on many levels.

Independent

Such recidivism is troubling on many levels.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Reserve this expression for impactful statements in opinion pieces, reviews or high-stakes arguments where you want to emphasize the gravity of a mistake.

Common error

Do not use "wrong on many levels" when providing neutral factual reports. Because it carries strong subjective weight, it can undermine the perceived objectivity of a purely informative text. Instead, use more descriptive terms like "factually inaccurate" or "procedurally flawed".

Linguistic Context

Grammatically, "wrong on many levels" functions as an adjective phrase usually serving as a subject complement. According to Ludwig AI, it is primarily used to qualify a noun or a clause as deeply defective. The prepositional phrase "on many levels" acts as a quantifier of the 'wrongness', extending the scope beyond a single point of failure.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Wiki

10%

Social Media

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The expression "wrong on many levels" is a powerful linguistic tool used to denote a multifaceted failure. Based on data from Ludwig, the phrase is most commonly employed in News & Media contexts to highlight ethical, logical or practical shortcomings in public discourse. It is recognized by Ludwig AI as grammatically correct and stylistically effective for adding emphasis. While alternatives like "flawed in several respects" offer a more clinical tone, "wrong on many levels" remains the preferred choice for writers looking to signal deep systemic disapproval across multiple perspectives. It is best used in persuasive or critical writing where the author intends to dismantle an argument layer by layer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flawed in several respects

More formal and objective, often used in technical or academic critique.

fundamentally unsound

Suggests the core logic or foundation is broken, common in business or intellectual debates.

unacceptable on multiple fronts

Broadens the scope to include social, ethical or procedural disapproval.

incorrect from various perspectives

Neutral phrasing that implies a comprehensive analytical failure.

erroneous in many ways

A slightly more academic tone that focuses on the presence of multiple errors.

morally and logically indefensible

Much stronger intensity, specifically targeting ethics and reasoning.

entirely misguided

Focuses on the wrongness of the intent or direction rather than just the outcome.

problematic in every sense

An all-encompassing critique often used in social commentary.

riddled with errors

Focuses more on factual inaccuracies or technical mistakes.

wholly inappropriate

Focuses on social norms and decorum rather than logical correctness.

FAQs

How do I use "wrong on many levels" in a sentence?

You can use it as a predicative adjective to describe an action or decision, for example: "The move to cut health benefits is wrong on many levels, affecting both staff morale and public trust".

Is "wrong on many levels" too informal for business writing?

It is acceptable in persuasive business writing or editorials, but for formal reports, you might prefer "fundamentally flawed" or "highly problematic".

What does the phrase "on many levels" mean exactly?

It metaphorically refers to different 'layers' of analysis, such as the logical level, the ethical level, the financial level and the social level.

What is the difference between "wrong on many levels" and "just plain wrong"?

While "just plain wrong" emphasizes simple, obvious error, "wrong on many levels" suggests a more complex, multifaceted failure that requires detailed explanation.