Yes, saying that humans "used to be monkeys" is inaccurate and a common misconception about the theory of evolution. It is essential to clarify this misconception to better understand the scientific perspective on human evolution.
The theory of evolution, proposed by Charles Darwin, explains how species change over time through the process of natural selection. According to this theory, all life forms, including humans and monkeys, share a common ancestry that dates back millions of years. Humans did not evolve from modern monkeys or any species of monkeys that we see today.
Instead, humans and modern monkeys (like chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans) share a common ancestor that lived millions of years ago. Over time, this common ancestor gave rise to different lineages, one of which led to humans and the other to the modern species of monkeys. The process of evolution involves the accumulation of genetic changes over generations, leading to the diversity of life we observe today.
In summary, humans and modern monkeys have a shared evolutionary history, but humans did not evolve from monkeys as they exist today. Both humans and modern monkeys have undergone separate evolutionary paths from a common ancestor. This concept is known as "common descent," and it is a fundamental principle in the theory of evolution.