wrongfully believe that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wrongfully believe that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing a misconception or false belief that someone holds, often implying that the belief is unjustified or incorrect. Example: "Many people wrongfully believe that success comes without hard work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The official said that statement might have led Detective Vasquez to wrongfully believe that either Mr. Kaiser or Mr. Dorisman had a gun.

The New York Times

At a news conference at City Hall yesterday, Mr. Trotter spoke of a new era for the city's firefighters and said, "Let me serve notice to those who wrongfully believe that the department is a haven for small-mindedness, offensive behavior and stagnation".

The New York Times

Myth: Cold sores and genital sores are way different Many people wrongfully believe that cold sores don't count as "real" herpes, explains Raquel Dardik, MD, a clinical associate professor at NYU Langone's Joan H. Tisch Center for Women's Health.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Not until Blacks are equal in opportunity and proportionally in outcomes we will have failed to reach that racial homeostasis that the post-racial thinkers, wrongfully, believe we have today.

Huffington Post

An anthropologist by training and by trade (she teaches at Boston University), the author takes us from coffee house to coffee house, uncovering a whole world that would be hidden from those wrongfully believing Japan is only about tea.

Huffington Post

9.09pm BST 40 min: Caravajal concedes a corner because he wrongfully believes there is an opponent near him.

The Guardian - Sport

"He got into the nitty-gritty details of cases, and when he began to believe that somebody was wrongfully convicted he wouldn't stop until he got justice," Mr. Scheck said Monday.

The New York Times

James Bednar, executive director of the Oklahoma Indigent Defense System, said there was no basis "at this point" to believe that anyone had been wrongfully executed because of her testimony.

The New York Times

Tuggy (2004) objects that if this theory were true, it would seem that one or more members of the Trinity had wrongfully deceived us by leading us to falsely believe that there is only one divine self.

SEP

The University of San Francisco School of Law is offering free legal help for investors of modest means who believe that their stock market losses were wrongfully caused by their brokers.

The New York Times

Believe that.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wrongfully believe that", ensure the context clearly indicates why the belief is incorrect and what the actual truth is. This adds clarity and strengthens your argument.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "wrongful belief" as absurd or ridiculous when it might be a genuine misunderstanding. Instead, address the belief respectfully and explain the correct perspective with evidence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wrongfully believe that" functions as a disclaimer or a refutation. It introduces a statement that is often believed to be true but is, in fact, incorrect or based on false information. Ludwig AI validates this usage, indicating that it's acceptable in English writing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wrongfully believe that" is a grammatically correct phrase used to introduce and subsequently refute a common misconception. Ludwig confirms the phrase's acceptability. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts and serves to correct inaccurate beliefs with a neutral tone. When using this phrase, ensure you clearly explain why the belief is incorrect and provide accurate information to counter it. Though less frequent compared to other phrases conveying similar meanings, its specific connotation of injustice makes it a powerful tool in certain contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

erroneously believe that

Substitutes 'wrongfully' with 'erroneously', which carries a similar meaning of being incorrect.

falsely believe that

Uses 'falsely' to highlight the untruth of the belief.

wrongfully assume that

Similar structure but using 'assume' instead of 'believe'.

incorrectly assume that

Changes the verb to 'assume', indicating a presumption made in error.

mistakenly think that

Replaces 'believe' with 'think' and adds 'mistakenly' to emphasize the error.

have the mistaken idea that

Highlights the 'idea' as being incorrect.

be under the false impression that

Expresses the idea as having a 'false impression', indicating a misunderstanding.

naively believe that

Emphasizes a lack of awareness or experience as the reason for the incorrect belief.

labor under the misapprehension that

Suggests a more significant misunderstanding or misconception.

be deluded into thinking that

Indicates a stronger sense of deception or being misled.

FAQs

How can I use "wrongfully believe that" in a sentence?

You can use "wrongfully believe that" to introduce an idea or concept that is often misunderstood or based on incorrect information. For example, "Many people wrongfully believe that all fats are bad for you".

What's a good alternative to "wrongfully believe that"?

Alternatives include "incorrectly assume that", "mistakenly think that", or "erroneously believe that". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it more formal to say "erroneously believe" instead of "wrongfully believe"?

"Erroneously believe" is generally considered more formal than "wrongfully believe". "Erroneously" suggests a mistake due to a misunderstanding, while "wrongfully" can imply a moral or legal injustice.

Which is correct: "wrongfully believe that" or "wrongly believe that"?

Both "wrongfully believe that" and "wrongly believe that" are grammatically correct, but "wrongfully" implies a stronger sense of injustice or impropriety associated with the belief. "Wrongly" simply indicates an error.