Is "You are correct" correct? [closed]

It seems to me that "You are correct" means that the person in question is supposedly "correct" in their quiddity. "That is correct" or "You are right" seems a lot better.

I also would like to know if someone is using correct(ly) correctly, as to correct someone who is potentially using correctly incorrectly.

Solution 1:

In English the verb "to be" ("you are") does not only refer to matters of quiddity ('essence'). We say "you are here" or "you are cold" all of which refer to transient properties of 'you'. If you are perhaps translating from Spanish, the English "to be" is used for both "ser" and "estar".

As such one is perfectly correct to say "You are correct". Generally the sense in which you are correct ought to be obvious - for example, the statement you just made. It would not be normal to say "you are correct" with no context implying what it is that is correct about them.

EXCEPTION: As well as 'right', 'correct' can also mean "in accordance with an acknowledged or accepted standard". With that meaning you could say "you are correct" without an implied context.