Meaning & use
misstating
Last updated
“misstating” is a form of “misstate”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
verbtransitive
Saying something in a way that is not accurate or gives the wrong information.
Grammar: Takes an object: misstate the facts. The -ing form is used in continuous tenses or as a gerund.
Patterns
- misstate something
- misstate the facts
- be accused of misstating something
The report was criticized for misstating the number of people affected.
She apologized for misstating the date of the meeting.
He is often accused of misstating his opponent's position.
Word forms
| third person singular | misstates |
|---|---|
| past tense | misstated |
| past participle | misstated |
| -ing form | misstating |
Common combinations
- misstate the facts
- The newspaper had to correct the article because it misstated the facts.
- misstate the truth
- A witness who misstates the truth can face legal consequences.
- misstate one's position
- The interviewer misstated the senator's position on the bill.
- misstate the amount
- If you misstate the amount on your tax return, you may have to pay a penalty.
Synonyms and how they differ
- misreport
- Used especially for news or official reports that give wrong details; misstate is more general and can be about any spoken or written statement.
- distort
- Suggests twisting facts to create a misleading impression, often intentionally; misstate can be accidental or deliberate.
- misrepresent
- Often implies giving a false impression of someone's character or views; misstate focuses on factual inaccuracy.
Opposites
Word family
- misstatement noun
- An untrue or incorrect statement.
- misstate verb
- To state something incorrectly.
Commonly confused: misstating or misspeaking?
misstating vs misspeaking
Misspeaking means making a mistake while speaking, like saying the wrong word by accident; misstating means giving incorrect information, even if you speak clearly.
Practice
Choose the correct form: The politician was accused of ______ the unemployment figures.
Choose one answer.
After the preposition 'of', we need the -ing form (gerund), so 'misstating' is correct. 'Misstate' is the base form and cannot follow 'of'; 'misstated' is past tense and would need a subject; 'misstatement' is a noun and would need an article or determiner.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “misstating”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.