against expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "against expectations" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that happens in a way that is unexpected or goes against what was predicted or assumed. Example: Against expectations, the young team of underdogs won the championship game.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A. You're always struggling against expectations.

The New York Times

How did it perform against expectations?

The New York Times - Magazine

Rather against expectations, the moderates are prevailing.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mr. Obama's approval numbers measure his performance against expectations.

The New York Times

But Cardinal Wuerl cautioned against expectations of an American pope.

The New York Times

For the moment he is warning against expectations being raised too high.

The Economist

Import growth was 4.7 percent year on year in July against expectations of 7.2 percent.

The New York Times

Instead, he worked against expectations, managing to do something unexpected by playing it normal.

The New York Times - Arts

ON JULY 31st, against expectations, President Robert Mugabe won a landslide election victory.

The Economist

More than any other rapper in the mainstream, she pushed hard against expectations, and won.

The New York Times - Arts

Only France and South Korea went against expectations, increasing their spending.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "against expectations" to highlight a surprising outcome or result, adding emphasis to the unexpected nature of the event. It works well in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "against expectations" when the outcome is somewhat predictable or only mildly surprising. Overusing the phrase can dilute its impact and make your writing sound less credible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "against expectations" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a verb or noun. It describes the manner in which an event or outcome occurs, emphasizing that it deviates from what was anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usage across numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "against expectations" is a grammatically correct and widely used prepositional phrase to indicate that an event or outcome occurred contrary to what was predicted or anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples across various domains. Its frequency is high, especially in news, scientific, and formal business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure the surprising nature of the event warrants the emphasis it provides. Alternative phrases like "contrary to predictions" or "surprisingly" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances. Avoid overuse to maintain its impact, and consider the context to ensure its appropriateness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contrary to predictions

Uses "predictions" instead of "expectations", focusing on formal forecasting.

surprisingly

A simpler adverb to denote something happening in an unexpected way.

unanticipatedly

Expresses the unexpected nature of an event in a concise adverbial form.

contrary to what was anticipated

Replaces "expectations" with a more verbose "what was anticipated" for emphasis.

unforeseen

Focuses on the lack of prior knowledge or prediction.

defying expectations

Emphasizes the act of actively going against what was foreseen.

to everyone's surprise

Highlights the general astonishment caused by an event.

in an unexpected turn of events

Introduces the element of surprise more explicitly.

in defiance of projections

Uses "projections" to suggest a statistical or data-driven expectation.

bucking the trend

Indicates a resistance to a prevailing pattern or expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "against expectations" in a sentence?

You can use "against expectations" to introduce a surprising outcome or result, for example: "Against expectations, the underdog team won the championship."

What are some alternatives to "against expectations"?

Alternatives include "contrary to predictions", "surprisingly", or "unanticipatedly", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "contrary to expectations" grammatically the same as "against expectations"?

Yes, "contrary to expectations" carries a similar meaning to "against expectations". Both phrases indicate that something happened in a way that was not predicted or anticipated.

When is it best to use "against expectations" in writing?

Use "against expectations" when you want to emphasize the surprising or unexpected nature of an event, especially when it deviates from a common belief or prediction. However, avoid overusing it to maintain its impact.