wrongly assume

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "wrongly assume" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has made an incorrect assumption about something. Example: "Many people wrongly assume that all cats dislike water, but some actually enjoy it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Men wrongly assume that women don't hustle like they do.

The New York Times

People do wrongly assume he will be dreadful, though.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

These wrongly assume that there is no end to an indefinite rise — there is.

The New York Times - Arts

Some men are reluctant to accept a movement that they, wrongly, assume will emasculate them.

The Guardian

Sometimes, collectors wrongly assume that a dealer's appraised value represents what buyers are willing to pay.

The New York Times

Students who finance their educations through private lenders often wrongly assume that private and federal loans work the same way.

The New York Times

Students who borrow privately often wrongly assume that private and government loans function in the same way.

The New York Times

Many readers will wrongly assume that Nate is predicting the election, and that's not their fault, really.

The New York Times

In a now famous 2008 essay, Men Explain Things to Me, Rebecca Solnit refers to (some) men who wrongly assume they know things and wrongly assume women don't and why women allow themselves to be silenced.

The Guardian - Opinion

People often wrongly assume, he says, that because people are asexual, they are not capable of emotional intimacy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

As anti-union sentiment continues to spread, politicians may wrongly assume that education cutbacks mainly affect the salaries and benefits of teachers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "wrongly assume", ensure the context clearly indicates why the assumption is incorrect to avoid ambiguity and strengthen your argument.

Common error

Avoid using "wrongly assume" when a simple misunderstanding is involved; reserve it for situations where the assumption leads to significant errors or misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "wrongly assume" functions as a verb phrase used to express an incorrect or unfounded supposition. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. The auxiliary verb "assume" indicates the action of taking something for granted, while the adverb "wrongly" modifies this action, highlighting its inaccuracy.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "wrongly assume" is a correct and commonly used phrase to point out an incorrect assumption. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and widely applicable. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts, this phrase is best used when the assumption leads to misinterpretations. When employing "wrongly assume", ensure clarity by stating why the assumption is wrong and avoid using it for minor misunderstandings. Alternatives like "incorrectly believe" or "mistakenly presume" offer similar meanings with varying levels of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incorrectly believe

Emphasizes the incorrectness of the belief, focusing on the mental state.

mistakenly presume

Highlights the error in presuming something, implying a lack of proper basis.

erroneously suppose

Focuses on the factual inaccuracy of the supposition.

falsely imagine

Stresses the lack of truth in the mental image or concept.

unjustifiably conclude

Highlights that the conclusion is not supported by evidence or reason.

improperly infer

Focuses on the incorrect process of drawing a conclusion from evidence.

inaccurately gather

The information or understanding is not correct.

be under the misapprehension

Highlights the state of misunderstanding or misconception.

labour under the delusion

Suggests a strong, but false, belief that influences one's judgement.

be deluded into thinking

Stresses the deception involved in the false belief.

FAQs

How can I use "wrongly assume" in a sentence?

You can use "wrongly assume" to indicate that someone is making an incorrect assumption about something. For example, "Many people "wrongly assume" that all cats dislike water."

What's a more formal way to say "wrongly assume"?

Alternatives include phrases like "incorrectly believe" or "mistakenly presume", which add a more formal tone depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "wrongly assume" and "wrongly believe"?

While similar, "wrongly assume" suggests a conclusion drawn without sufficient evidence, whereas "wrongly believe" implies holding an incorrect conviction. You might "wrongly assume" something based on incomplete information, but "wrongly believe" something based on misinformation.

What are some common things people "wrongly assume"?

People "wrongly assume" many things. Examples are: that success guarantees happiness, that age equates to wisdom, or that someone's intentions align with their actions.