appears to be contrary

USAGE SUMMARY

"appears to be contrary" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing something that seems to oppose or contradict another idea or statement. For example, "The evidence appears to be contrary to the initial hypothesis." Alternative expressions include "seems to contradict" and "appears to oppose."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

He appears to be, contrary to the allegations, a very gentle soul".

The New York Times

Recognition of an award and its enforcement will be denied when it appears to be contrary to public policy.

Britannica

However, when such an agreement allows, but does not require, a Member State to adopt a measure which appears to be contrary to European Union law, the Member State must refrain from adopting such a measure.

Harvard University

62 However, when such an agreement allows, but does not require, a Member State to adopt a measure which appears to be contrary to European Union law, the Member State must refrain from adopting such a measure (see, to this effect, Evans Medical and Macfarlan Smith, paragraph 32, and Centro-Com, paragraph 60).

Harvard University

"Professor Galloway himself has been denied the right to speak publicly … The University's willingness to allow the suspicions it has created to continue to circulate is surprising and appears to be contrary to the principles of fairness and justice that should guide any distinguished academic institution," the letter reads.

The Guardian - Books

In a screening context, encountering balanced information rather than persuasion appears to be contrary to people's expectations, but women appreciated the opportunity to become better informed.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

(It appeared to be contrary to at least two Egyptian laws and legal precedent).

The New York Times - Magazine

Exclusion of nonresidents or charging them far higher fees for parking would appear to be contrary to the court settlement.

The New York Times

As Grieve pointed out in an eloquent speech, the extensive power contained within clause 9 appeared to be contrary to its own stated policy as to how Brexit is to be carried out, and so MPs were being asked to surrender any control over how the government conducted Brexit without any good reason.

The Guardian - Opinion

But such an outcome would not only fly in the face of Iraq's entire history since being created out of a British mandate at the end of the First World War, but would appear to be contrary to much of what we've seen in the aftermath of other recent U.S. interventions, including most recently in Afghanistan.

The New York Times

And that's what gave BioShock its headache: its makers knew that the shooting came first for a lot of its players, so however much that violence appeared to be contrary to the themes at work, narratively of self-determinism, destiny, and overarching notions of Objectivism it was necessary.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "appears to be contrary", ensure the context clearly defines what the subject is seemingly contradicting for clarity and impact. Use this phrase to introduce a contrast or unexpected deviation from an established idea or expectation.

Common error

Avoid using "appears to be contrary" when a stronger assertion of contradiction is warranted. Overusing this phrase can dilute the impact of your argument, especially when the evidence definitively proves a contradiction rather than merely suggesting it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "appears to be contrary" functions as a linking phrase. It introduces a sense of contrast or opposition to a previously stated idea or expectation. As shown in Ludwig, this phrase is typically used to signal a divergence from an expected norm or finding.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

48%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "appears to be contrary" is a useful and grammatically correct expression to introduce a sense of contradiction or opposition. While not extremely common, it is prevalent enough to be recognized and understood across different registers, but is most frequently used in scientific contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase serves primarily to signal a divergence from what is expected, inviting further consideration of the conflicting evidence or viewpoints. When employing it, ensure that the nature of the contradiction is clear to your audience for maximum impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

seems to be contrary

Replaces "appears" with "seems", offering a slightly less formal tone but maintaining the core meaning.

appeared to be contrary

Changes the tense to past, indicating that something seemed contradictory at a prior point in time.

appears to be inconsistent

Substitutes "contrary" with "inconsistent", highlighting a lack of alignment rather than direct opposition.

appears to be incompatible

Replaces "contrary" with "incompatible", suggesting an inability to coexist or function together.

appears to be at odds with

Replaces "contrary" with "at odds with", emphasizing a conflict or disagreement.

runs contrary to

Uses a verb phrase to convey the sense of contradiction or opposition.

is contrary to

Uses a simpler verb construction but retains the core meaning of opposition.

is in contradiction with

Emphasizes the presence of a direct contradiction.

suggests otherwise

Offers a more indirect way of indicating a contradictory viewpoint.

presents a conflicting view

Highlights the presence of an alternate, differing perspective.

FAQs

How can I use "appears to be contrary" in a sentence?

Use "appears to be contrary" to suggest that something seems to contradict or oppose something else, such as "The new data "appears to be contrary" to our initial findings".

What's the difference between "seems to be contrary" and "appears to be contrary"?

The phrases "seems to be contrary" and "appears to be contrary" are very similar. "Seems" might suggest a slightly more subjective impression, while "appears" implies something is evident based on available information.

What can I say instead of "appears to be contrary"?

Alternatives include "seems to be inconsistent", "appears to be incompatible", or "runs contrary to", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "appears to be contrary" in formal writing?

It is suitable to use "appears to be contrary" in formal writing when you want to introduce a contrasting viewpoint or evidence without making a definitive statement. It suggests a discrepancy that warrants further investigation or consideration.