Word: erroneous (adjective)

Associations

"Erroneous" means something that is wrong or incorrect. It is often used to describe facts, ideas, beliefs, or statements that are not true or have mistakes.

• The report was erroneous because it had wrong data. Here, "erroneous" means the report contained errors.
• He gave an erroneous answer to the question, meaning his answer was incorrect.
• The map was erroneous, leading travelers in the wrong direction. This shows "erroneous" can describe something causing mistakes. A synonym is "incorrect," but "erroneous" is more formal and often used in writing or serious speech.

Substitution

You can replace "erroneous" with:

• incorrect (less formal)
• wrong (more casual)
• mistaken (focuses on the error made)
• false (used when something is untrue) Changing the word can change the tone. For example, "wrong" is simple and common, while "erroneous" sounds more formal or technical.

Deconstruction

The root is "error," which means a mistake. The suffix "-ous" means "full of" or "having the quality of." So, "erroneous" means "full of errors" or "having mistakes." The word comes from Latin "errōneus," which also means mistaken or wandering from the right path.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you found an erroneous fact in a book or article?
• How would you politely tell someone their idea is erroneous without sounding rude?
• Do you think "erroneous" is used more in spoken or written English? Why?