against information

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "against information" is not commonly used in written English and may be unclear in meaning.
It could be used in contexts discussing opposition to certain types of information or misinformation. Example: "The campaign was launched against information that misled the public about health risks."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The results revealed that not all patients wanted to be fully informed about their health condition; some wanted to be protected against information of a potentially harmful character.

BMC Geriatrics

In 2006 the government passed a law against "information crimes".

The Guardian

Marshall McLuhan understood the potentially startling results when, as he put it, "information brushed against information".

The New York Times - Arts

The brain weighs emotional attitudes like those prompted by oxytocin against information available to the conscious mind.

The New York Times - Science

In the next few weeks the Nuffield Foundation will produce the first results from a study plotting students' tax records against information supplied by the Student Loans Company.

The Guardian

In 2009, national-security officials re-assessed the 240 remaining detainees, vetting the military's files against information collected by intelligence and law-enforcement agencies.

The New York Times

The National Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) has rolled out mobile devices that allow the police to scan a person's fingerprints and check them against information from the national fingerprint database for verification.

The Guardian

To ensure that the person taking the course is the one who registered for it, the material may be interrupted by requests for personal data that the course provider checks against information obtained from state agencies or credit bureaus.

The New York Times

Mr Smith said many complaints against information being withheld were complicated by "muddled" information, the long-standing nature of some grievances and by differing procedures and priorities between the various authorities.

The Guardian

But in a digital age when nearly 70,000 Chinese students are studying in the United States and roughly 163,000 foreign students study at Chinese universities, walls against information are porous.

The New York Times

We then benchmarked the data by ranking it according to utility spend as well as externally against information from organisations including the Carbon Trust and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "against information", ensure the context clearly indicates whether you mean 'in opposition to' or 'compared to'. Consider rephrasing for clarity if ambiguity exists.

Common error

Avoid using "against information" when you actually mean 'supported by information' or 'consistent with information'. Double-check that the context reflects opposition or contrast, not agreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "against information" primarily functions as a prepositional phrase, typically modifying a verb or noun. It indicates opposition, comparison, or protection in relation to information. The examples in Ludwig show its use in contexts ranging from combating misinformation to verifying data.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "against information" is used to show opposition, comparison, or defense related to specific information. Ludwig AI points out that while grammatically acceptable, it is not the most common choice, and its meaning depends heavily on context. It appears most frequently in news and scientific sources, with a neutral register. For clearer and more common alternatives, consider phrases like "opposed to information" or "contrary to information", depending on your intended meaning. Ensure that the context clarifies whether you mean resistance, contrast, or comparison to prevent misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

contrary to information

Expresses direct contradiction or disagreement with given information.

opposed to information

Replaces "against" with "opposed to", maintaining the core meaning of resistance or contrast.

versus information

Presents a direct opposition or competition against the information itself.

in contrast to information

Uses "in contrast to" to highlight a difference or opposition to the information presented.

counter to information

Indicates a position or action that works against or negates information.

in defense against information

Emphasizes protection or safeguarding from potentially harmful information.

to counteract information

Focuses on actively neutralizing or diminishing the impact of information.

as opposed to information

Highlights a clear distinction and preference of something over information.

to shield from information

Highlights the act of protecting or buffering someone from information.

compared with information

Shifts the focus to a comparison, assessing something relative to information.

FAQs

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

Use "against information" to show opposition, comparison, or defense. For example, "The campaign was launched "against information" that misled the public."

What are some alternatives to "against information"?

Consider using phrases like "opposed to information", "contrary to information", or "in contrast to information" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "opposed to information" or "against information"?

"Opposed to information" is generally clearer and more common in formal writing. "Against information" can be acceptable, but ensure the meaning is unambiguous.

What does "counter to information" mean?

"Counter to information" indicates something that acts in opposition or negates the effect of certain information. It suggests an attempt to invalidate or disprove the information.