incorrectly
gb/ɪŋkɚˈɛktli/ us/ɪŋkɚˈɛktli/
B1
English
~ 9000
Senses
0 senses
adverb
B1
property
1
in a way that is wrong
In a way that is not right or not correct, often because of a mistake with facts, rules, or form.
Usage pattern:
[someone] does [something] incorrectly
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'incorrectly' with 'incorrect'. Use 'incorrectly' before verbs to describe actions (e.g., 'He spelled it incorrectly') and 'incorrect' before nouns or after linking verbs to describe things (e.g., 'That answer is incorrect'). Another mistake is overusing 'false' instead of 'incorrectly'; 'false' usually describes statements or information, while 'incorrectly' describes how an action is done.
Synonyms
wrongly (Very close in meaning; slightly more common in everyday speech and can also suggest moral unfairness, which 'incorrectly' usually does not.)
|
inaccurately (Focuses more on lack of exactness or precision, especially with numbers or details; slightly more formal or technical.)
|
mistakenly (Emphasizes that something was done by mistake, not on purpose; a bit more about the cause than the result.)
Antonyms
correctly (Direct opposite; means following the right rules, facts, or methods.)
|
accurately (Opposite especially for facts, numbers, or details that are exact and precise.)
Collocations
answered incorrectly
|spelled incorrectly
|pronounced incorrectly
|incorrectly assume
|incorrectly labeled
|reported incorrectly
Themes
education
|communication
|work
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The teacher marked three questions incorrectly and later had to change the grades.
- Her name was incorrectly spelled on the certificate.
- Some news sites incorrectly reported that the event had been canceled.
- He incorrectly assumed that the meeting was at ten o'clock.
- The software was incorrectly installed, so it keeps crashing.
Learner examples
- I think I wrote the date incorrectly on the form.
- The waiter incorrectly brought us the wrong bill.
- My last name is often spelled incorrectly.
- The student answered the first two questions incorrectly.
- The website incorrectly said that the shop was open.
Grammar
Dictionary form
incorrectly
IPA
GB/ɪŋkɚˈɛktli/
US/ɪŋkɚˈɛktli/
Syllables & stress
in - cor - rectly (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (cor)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: incorrectly
- Plural: incorrectlies
Word family
Forms
incorrectlies
noun
Core family
Negative and opposite forms
incorrect
adjective A2
Advanced or less common
correctness
noun B2
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.