Basic Details
Word: Incorrectly
Part of Speech: Adverb
Meaning: In a way that is wrong or not true.
Synonyms: wrongly, inaccurately, mistakenly
Antonyms: correctly, rightly, accurately
How to Spell Incorrectly
Syllables: in - cor - rect - ly
Tricky part: Correct has a double r, and the -ly is added straight after the t with no extra letters.
Watch out for: incorectly, incorrecly, incorrectely
Memory tip: In Latin, correct was com- + regere; the m turned into r before the r, giving rr. Write in + correct + ly and change nothing.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The visa form was rejected because Papa had filled in his passport number incorrectly.
Example 2: If a word is pronounced incorrectly, the meaning can change completely.
Example 3: The cashier had incorrectly added two extra cups of tea to our bill.
Fun Fact
The rect in correct comes from the Latin rectus, meaning straight or right, which also gives us rectangle, a shape with four right angles.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
incorrecttly
a) r
b) l
c) c
d) t
Show answer
d) t. Correct has one t at the end, and -ly is simply added to it.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word incorrectly as used in the sentence:
The answer was marked incorrectly because the teacher read a 7 as a 1.
a) carelessly
b) quickly
c) accurately
d) wrongly
Show answer
c) accurately. Marking accurately means marking without mistakes, the reverse of incorrectly; wrongly agrees with it.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The new waiter added up the bill tolcrynrcie, charging us for three coffees instead of two.
a) correctly
b) indirectly
c) incredibly
d) incorrectly
Show answer
d) incorrectly. Correctly also has two r's and two c's, but the jumble holds an i and an n as well.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A word spelt incorrectly is a word that ____.
a) is written in capitals
b) is too long for the line
c) comes from another language
d) has a mistake in its letters
Show answer
d) has a mistake in its letters
2. You are doing something incorrectly if you ____.
a) say thank you for a gift
b) lock the door at night
c) brush your teeth twice a day
d) wear your shoes on the wrong feet
Show answer
d) wear your shoes on the wrong feet
