contradict expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contradict expectations" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing situations or outcomes that are surprising or do not align with what was anticipated. Example: "The results of the experiment contradict expectations, revealing a completely different outcome than we had predicted."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Given this emphasis on public participation's positive influence on personal responsibility, the similarity between the ascription of responsibility beliefs of response professionals and laypeople in our study seems to contradict expectations.

Journal of Applied Volcanology

Although this seems to contradict expectations at first sight, it could be explained by (a) native women being often married to immigrant men who come from countries with more traditional gender roles such as Turkey and Italy.

IZA Journal of Migration

This may seem to contradict expectations and it is important to remember that the people receiving loans are from the working class.

Huffington Post

Both points seemingly contradict expectations based on the PMRN slope.

Evolutionary Applications

Nevertheless, they do not contradict expectations of a small risk based on standard methods of risk assessment.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But far from being the kind of unequivocal virtue the politicians proclaim it to be, take a closer look and the word collapses under the weight of contradicting expectations.

The Guardian - Opinion

Now, a new study shows just how it happens, contradicting expectations of what a proper liquid should do.

Science Magazine

This could be best elaborated by the idea that teachers have always had differing or sometimes contradicting expectations of who is to be called autonomous learner.

Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education

Contradicting expectations, both experiments failed to observe any evidence of integrative processing on the level of the SN.

Plosone

The few ACASI comparison studies in Africa involved adolescents or general population, and firm conclusions of its usage have not been drawn, either because sample sizes were too small, or study findings were contradicting expectations [10], [11], [13].

Plosone

This finding somewhat contradicts expectations, because one would suppose that GPs without a preference would be more flexible in taking a position in a certain type of practice.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing "contradict expectations", provide clear context to underscore why the result is unexpected or noteworthy. This enhances the impact and clarifies your point.

Common error

Avoid using "contradict expectations" without clearly establishing the original expectations. Ensure your audience understands what was anticipated before highlighting the contradiction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contradict expectations" functions as a verb phrase that introduces an element of surprise or deviation from what is anticipated. It highlights situations where actual results differ from predicted or assumed outcomes. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "contradict expectations" is used to denote instances where outcomes differ from what was predicted or assumed. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and mostly found in scientific and news-related contexts. While alternatives like "defy expectations" and "challenge expectations" offer similar meanings, "contradict expectations" provides a specific emphasis on the opposition between anticipation and reality. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by establishing the initial expectations to highlight the surprise or unexpected nature of the result.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defy expectations

Emphasizes a strong resistance or opposition to what is expected.

challenge expectations

Suggests a questioning or testing of what is expected.

belie expectations

Indicates that the reality is different from what one would expect.

run counter to expectations

Highlights a direct opposition or conflict with anticipated outcomes.

fly in the face of expectations

Implies a bold and obvious contradiction to what is expected.

prove expectations wrong

Focuses on the result of showing that expectations were inaccurate.

disprove expectations

More directly emphasizes the act of proving expectations to be false.

negate expectations

The original expectation is completely nullified.

invalidate expectations

Indicates expectations are not correct.

reverse expectations

The anticipated outcome is completely the opposite of the actual outcome.

FAQs

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

You can use "contradict expectations" to describe situations where the outcome is the opposite of what was predicted or assumed. For example: "The study's findings "contradict expectations", showing a decrease in sales despite the marketing campaign".

What phrases are similar to "contradict expectations"?

Similar phrases include "defy expectations", "challenge expectations", and "belie expectations". These phrases all convey the idea of something not happening as anticipated.

Is it better to use "contradict expectations" or "meet expectations"?

The choice depends on the context. "Meet expectations" describes outcomes that align with predictions, while "contradict expectations" describes those that do not. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the situation you are describing.

Can "contradict expectations" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "contradict expectations" is suitable for formal writing, especially in academic or scientific contexts where unexpected results are often discussed. It clearly and concisely conveys the idea of outcomes that differ from what was predicted.