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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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Happy to be proven wrong

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'happy to be proven wrong' is correct and commonly used in written English
It is used to express a willingness to be corrected if it turns out that one was incorrect about something. For example: "I thought the answer was 'A', but I'm happy to be proven wrong if it turns out to be 'B'!"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Tech

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

I'm happy to be proven wrong though.

It may be difficult to measure this visually, but I do not believe it is invisible, although I'm happy to be proven wrong.

News & Media

The Guardian

It's hard when you're watching a fight and trying to type constantly throughout it, however, so I'll be happy to be proven wrong.

It's a hefty price tag for a product that will admittedly make for some very cool Instagram stories — but I'm more than happy to be proven wrong here.

News & Media

TechCrunch

Let me start with a disclaimer: I am not writing this in my capacity as a university professor or researcher; I don't claim to be an expert on social networking; and I will be happy to be proven wrong—I have no vested interest in the success or failure of Quora.

News & Media

TechCrunch

I and my cynical knee-jerk reactivity were happy to be proven wrong.

News & Media

Huffington Post
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Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

I am happy to be proved wrong".

News & Media

The New York Times

"I will be happy to be proved wrong.

News & Media

The New York Times

Finally, I will be perfectly happy to be proved wrong.

News & Media

The New Yorker

But we're happy to be proved wrong.

I'd be happy to be proved wrong on the strategy, by the way.

News & Media

The New York Times
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Expert writing Tips

✓ Best practice

When using the phrase, ensure the context implies a genuine willingness to accept a different outcome, enhancing your credibility and fostering trust.

⚠ Common error

While the phrase expresses openness, avoid using it sarcastically or in situations where being wrong would have serious negative consequences. Ensure your tone reflects genuine receptiveness.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Linguistic Context

The phrase "happy to be proven wrong" functions as an expression of intellectual humility and open-mindedness. Ludwig's analysis of real-world examples confirms its use in conveying a willingness to accept being incorrect.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

✓ Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Tech

20%

General

15%

⚠ Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

5%

Science

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "happy to be proven wrong" is a useful expression to demonstrate open-mindedness and intellectual humility. It's grammatically correct, as confirmed by Ludwig, and signals a willingness to accept new information or different perspectives. While not extremely common, it appears regularly in news articles, tech blogs, and general discussions. When using this phrase, ensure your tone reflects genuine receptiveness to alternative outcomes.

FAQs

What does it mean to be "happy to be proven wrong"?

It means you're open-minded and willing to accept you're incorrect about something. It shows intellectual honesty and a desire for the truth.

When is it appropriate to use "happy to be proven wrong" in a sentence?

It's appropriate when you're stating an opinion or prediction and want to show you're receptive to other possibilities, like saying "I think this product will fail, but I'm "happy to be proven wrong" if it succeeds."

What are some alternatives to saying "happy to be proven wrong"?

You can use alternatives like "I'm open to being corrected", "I stand to be corrected", or "I welcome correction" depending on the context.

Is it "happy to be proven wrong" or "happy to be proved wrong"? Which is correct?

Both "proven" and "proved" are acceptable past participles of "prove", so both phrases are correct. However, ""happy to be proven wrong"" is more commonly used, especially in American English.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

4.5/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: