What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
mistakenly
Example
I mistakenly thought today was Friday, but it's actually Thursday. [mistakenly: adverb]
Example
She mistakenly believed that he was the one who stole her phone. [mistakenly: adverb]
erroneously
Example
The article erroneously stated that the company had gone bankrupt. [erroneously: adverb]
Example
He was erroneously accused of stealing the money from the cash register. [erroneously: adverb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Mistakenly is more commonly used than erroneously in everyday language.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between mistakenly and erroneously?
Erroneously is more formal than mistakenly and is often used in academic or technical writing.
