wrong rate

USAGE SUMMARY

Sentence: The company's wrong rate has significantly decreased in the past year.
This sentence is grammatically correct and could be used in written English. It is referring to the rate at which the company makes mistakes, errors, or incorrect decisions. For example, a company may have a high "wrong rate" in their customer service department, meaning that a high number of customer complaints or issues are the result of the company's mistakes. In this sentence, the speaker is stating that the company's wrong rate has decreased, indicating that they have improved in this aspect.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

23 human-written examples

Because sterling had gone in at the wrong rate, the Bank of England was under constant pressure and Britain's manufacturers were priced out of their export markets.

The Guardian - Books

But more than anyone else, they were also responsible for the second fundamental error of economic policy - the decision to return to the gold standard, at the wrong time and the wrong rate.

The Guardian - Books

Still, a final accounting by the city showed that about 2,000 of the city's roughly 48,000 drivers intentionally charged the wrong rate, said David Yassky, the city's taxi commissioner.

The New York Times

Desperate attempts to defend the wrong rate may involve capital losses (on central bank intervention), the economic damage caused by higher interest rates and a loss of political credibility.

The Economist

The UK government feared that joining the euro at the wrong rate would penalise British manufacturers, while those already in the single currency were concerned that too cheap a rate for sterling entry would hand an added competitive advantage to the UK's strong financial services sector.

The Guardian - Business

After an RAF board of inquiry found the most probable cause was the selection of the wrong rate of climb over the island, a report by two air marshals - Sir William Wratten and Sir John Day - concluded the pilots were "negligent to a gross degree".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

They have been charging the wrong rates, failing to issue receipts (the only proof of payment) or not accepting money.

The New York Times

The HMRC said last night it had merely acted because landfill sites were charging waste firms the wrong rates.

Independent

"I think the problem is that the market so desperately wants libors down it's actually putting wrong rates in," he went on to say, explaining that Barclays - and some of its peers - were under-reporting their rate to avoid being perceived as an outlier compared to other participating banks.

BBC

At a school assembly, Eliza said, a girl had declared that it was wrong to rate girls, that rating girls must stop, "and someone in the crowd said, 'Shut up, 7!' " The family exploded with laughter.

The New Yorker

Wrong intravenous rate was the most frequent error and most likely to be rated as serious (table 3).

BMJ Quality and Safety

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing financial matters, ensure the context clearly specifies what "wrong rate" refers to, such as interest rates, exchange rates, or tax rates. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "wrong rate" when you simply mean a "different rate". "Wrong rate" implies an error or mistake, whereas a "different rate" suggests a variation without necessarily being incorrect. For example, prefer "a different exchange rate" when currencies fluctuate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wrong rate" functions primarily as a modifier + noun construction, where "wrong" qualifies the type of "rate". Ludwig's examples show it describes instances where a rate is incorrect, inappropriate, or erroneously applied. The Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "wrong rate" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe an incorrect or inappropriate value, often in financial, scientific, or technical contexts. As indicated by Ludwig, it is a valid and easily understood phrase. While alternatives like "incorrect rate" or "erroneous rate" exist, "wrong rate" is suitable for general use, as confirmed by examples from sources such as The Guardian, The Economist, and The New York Times. Be mindful to specify the context of "rate" to avoid ambiguity, and avoid using "wrong rate" when a "different rate" is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incorrect rate

This alternative directly replaces "wrong" with its synonym "incorrect", maintaining the original meaning.

erroneous rate

Using "erroneous" adds a slightly more formal tone, emphasizing the mistake in the rate.

inaccurate rate

"Inaccurate" suggests a lack of precision in the rate, similar to "wrong".

inappropriate rate

"Inappropriate" focuses on the unsuitability of the rate for a particular situation.

improper rate

"Improper" indicates that the rate is not in accordance with rules or standards.

false rate

"False" suggests the rate is deliberately misleading or incorrect.

incorrect ratio

Replaces 'rate' with 'ratio', applicable when referring to proportions.

wrong level

Replaces 'rate' with 'level', appropriate when discussing amounts or stages.

wrong speed

When "rate" refers to pace, "wrong speed" becomes a suitable alternative.

unsuitable rate

"Unsuitable" highlights the lack of appropriateness of the rate.

FAQs

How can "wrong rate" be used in a sentence?

You can use "wrong rate" to describe an incorrect value in various contexts, such as "The bank charged me the "wrong interest rate"" or "The infusion pump was set at the "wrong administration rate"".

What are some alternatives to "wrong rate"?

Some alternatives to "wrong rate" include "incorrect rate", "erroneous rate", "inaccurate rate", and "inappropriate rate". The best choice depends on the specific context.

When is it more appropriate to use "incorrect rate" instead of "wrong rate"?

"Incorrect rate" and "wrong rate" are largely interchangeable. However, "incorrect rate" might be preferred in more formal or technical contexts, while "wrong rate" is suitable for general use. Both imply that a mistake has been made.

What's the difference between "wrong rate" and "different rate"?

"Wrong rate" suggests an error or that the rate is factually incorrect, while "different rate" simply means the rate is not the same as another rate, without necessarily being a mistake. It may be a matter of choice, market fluctuation or specific agreements.