correctness

/kəˈrektnəs/ (bre, ipa) · /kəˈrektnəs/ (ame, ipa) · /kə-ˈrek(t)-nəs/ (ame, mw)

correctness — noun

1. the state of being true, accurate, and free from mistakes — for example, the cor

1.名詞B2
釋義

the state of being true, accurate, and free from mistakes — for example, the correctness of a calculation, a scientific claim, or a data set.

例句

The teacher checked the correctness of every answer on the test before returning it.

the correctness of [noun phrase]

Scientists continue to debate the correctness of the findings from that study.

同義詞
  • accuracy

    more common for measurements, instruments, and numerical precision; 'correctness' is preferred for abstract truth

  • truth

    broader — refers to the quality of being in accord with fact or reality as a whole, not just a specific claim

  • validity

    focuses on logical soundness or legal effectiveness; narrower than 'correctness'

反義詞
  • incorrectness

    direct opposite; less common in everyday speech

  • inaccuracy

    implies a lack of precision rather than outright wrongness

文法句型

the correctness of [noun phrase]

用法筆記

Commonly used in academic, scientific, and technical contexts. The noun almost always appears with 'the' and is followed by 'of' specifying what is correct.

常見錯誤

❌I trust the correctness of this machine.
✅I trust the accuracy of this machine.
💡'correctness' refers to alignment with true facts; 'accuracy' is more natural when describing a machine's precision.
❌This is a correctness answer.
✅This is a correct answer.
💡'correctness' is a noun, not an adjective. Use 'correct' before a noun.

2. the quality of behaving and speaking according to accepted social rules — for ex

2.名詞C1
釋義

the quality of behaving and speaking according to accepted social rules — for example, dressing formally for a ceremony or addressing a senior colleague with the proper title.

例句

Amir's grandmother taught him the importance of correctness when meeting new people.

the importance of correctness

In some cultures, correctness at the dinner table means waiting for the host to begin eating.

correctness at [social setting]

同義詞
  • propriety

    more formal, emphasises moral or social appropriateness; often used in legal or institutional contexts

  • decorum

    focuses on dignified, polished behaviour in formal settings; narrower than 'correctness'

  • etiquette

    refers to the set of rules themselves rather than the quality of following them

反義詞
  • impropriety

    direct opposite; carries a stronger sense of moral or social unacceptability

文法句型

[adjective] correctness

correctness in [gerund phrase]

用法筆記

Appears most often in discussions of etiquette, protocol, and cultural norms. Frequently modified by adjectives such as 'political', 'social', or 'moral' in modern usage. The phrase 'political correctness' is a distinct, widely used compound with its own connotations.

常見錯誤

❌His correctness is very kind.
✅His behaviour showed great correctness.
💡'correctness' in this sense refers to following social rules, not a personal quality like kindness.
❌She spoke with correctness.
✅She spoke with great correctness.
💡'correctness' in this sense typically needs an intensifier like 'great', 'strict', or 'absolute' to sound natural.