English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
OFF or OF?
The estimate she presented is ~wide off~ the mark (nonstandard).
The estimate she presented is wide of the mark (standard). If something such as a claim or estimate is wide of the mark, it is incorrect or inaccurate.
Note, however, that when the expression doesn’t include the word, “wide”, we can say off the mark:
His criticisms were way ~of the mark~ (nonstandard).
His criticisms were way off the mark (standard).
I really have to wash my hands ~off~ the matter (nonstandard).
I really have to wash my hands of the matter (standard). If you wash your hands of someone or something, you refuse to be involved with them any more or to take responsibility for them.
GAB
