correct
- 01 A1 Beginner
adj.having no mistakes; being right or true.
adj.free from error; conforming to fact or truth.
Simple“Please check your work to make sure all the answers are correct.”
In context“The witness provided a correct account of the events, which helped the police identify the suspect quickly.”
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.following the rules of good manners or what is expected in a situation.
adj.conforming to accepted social standards or professional etiquette.
Simple“It is considered correct to send a thank-you note after a job interview.”
In context“While his tone was perfectly correct, there was a subtle coldness in his voice that made the guests feel unwelcome.”
Teacher's tipThis sense is often used in professional or high-society contexts regarding 'correct behavior' or 'correct attire'.
SynonymsAntonyms - 03 A2 Elementary
v.to change something so that it is right instead of wrong.
v.to rectify an error or inaccuracy in a text, calculation, or action.
Simple“The teacher used a red pen to correct the spelling mistakes in my essay.”
In context“The software automatically corrects common typographical errors as you type, saving significant time during the editing process.”
UsageThis is a transitive verb and requires a direct object.
- 04 B1 Intermediate
v.to look at a student's work and mark what is right or wrong.
v.to assess and mark errors in an examination or assignment.
Simple“It took the professor all weekend to correct the final exam papers.”
In context“After correcting the mid-term scripts, the tutor realized that most of the class had misunderstood the third question.”
Teacher's tipIn American English, 'grade' or 'mark' is much more common for this specific activity.
- 05 B1 Intermediate
v.to tell someone that what they just said or did was a mistake.
v.to inform a person that they have made an error, often by providing the right information.
Simple“I am sorry to correct you, but the meeting is actually at three o'clock.”
In context“She felt the need to correct her colleague during the presentation when he cited the wrong quarterly figures.”
Teacher's tipNote that correcting someone can sometimes be seen as rude depending on the social context.
Synonyms - 06 A2 Elementary
interj.a word you say to show that someone else is right.
interj.used as an affirmative response to confirm the accuracy of a statement.
Simple“'So the total is fifty dollars?' 'Correct.'”
In context“'You are suggesting that the project be delayed by two weeks?' 'Correct; we cannot proceed without the final safety report.'”
Teacher's tipThis can sound quite formal or clinical; in casual speech, people often just say 'right' or 'yeah'.
Usage correct identifiable
Borrowed from French correct, from Latin correctus (“improved, amended, correct”), past participle of corrigere, conrigere (“to make straight, make right, make better, improve, correct”), from con- (“together”) + combining form of regō, regere (“I rule, make straight”).
From Middle English correcten, borrowed from Anglo-Norman correcter, from Latin correctus.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.