out/off the point/of point/gone out of point

[Tan Elaine]

When my essay is irrelevant to the topic, which of the following should I use?
Is there another way to say it?

1. out of point
2. has gone out of point
3. off the point
3. off point

Thanks in advance.

 

[abaka]

When my essay is irrelevant to the topic, which of the following should I use?
Is there another way to say it?

1. out of point
2. has gone out of point
3. off the point
3. off point

Thanks in advance.

I think you've conflated several idioms.

You want to say your essay has missed the point.

Going off topic, or going off on a digression, means that you have started to discuss something irrelevant or tangential, but it does not mean that your essay is irrelevant to the topic. Sometimes digression is deliberate.

If you really must use one of these phrases, say your essay is off the point. But that's just a little odd to my (Canadian) ears.

 

[Tan Elaine]

Thanks, Abaka.

Where I live, the teacher will comment that my essay is out of point if it is not relevant to the topic.

Eg, if I am asked to write about "Fire", and I write something about a fire taking place and causing much destruction with many houses burnt and many residents left homeless, I believe that would not be relevant to the topic.

I believe I should write about the uses of fire and how it can destroy if a building catches fire, among other things.

I hope my question is clearer now.

Thanks again.

 

[abaka]

Yes, I see. But Canadian English uses the phrases I gave above. We would say you don't want your essay to miss the point about fire.

"Off the point" is fine too, it would seem; it's just not heard here all that much.