contradictory confirmation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contradictory confirmation" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is confirmed despite being contradictory or conflicting in nature. Example: "The witness provided a contradictory confirmation of the events, leaving the jury confused about the timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

EBP researchers have tended to interpret this absence of any contradictory evidence as a confirmation of their belief that policymakers do not use evidence.

Health Research Policy and Systems

In fact, people actively seek information that confirms their beliefs and will often ignore contradictory information, in a process known as confirmation bias.

Huffington Post

The first point that became apparent out of the fog of contradictory data these elections have generated, was confirmation that Scotland has morphed into something that looks, increasingly, like the foreign country Nicola would love it to be.

Vice

Despite the reports that the archbishops had been freed, there was no confirmation, and as the day progressed contradictory accounts emerged.

The New York Times

McChrystal, in his confirmation hearings, acknowledged that some statements "look contradictory," but said his error was approving a citation "that was not well-written" — as if the problem was the clumsy language of his subordinates, and not his own.

The New Yorker

As adults, we engage in "confirmation bias," which makes us seize on facts that bolster our preconceptions and overlook contradictory data.

The New York Times - Books

In the context of scientific research, confirmation biases can sustain theories or research programs in the face of inadequate or even contradictory evidence; the field of parapsychology has been particularly affected.

Wikipedia

The review of my book, "Kluge: The Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind" (April 27), unintentionally provides a vivid illustration of what scientists call confirmation bias: once we get an idea, we stick to it even in the face of contradictory evidence.

The New York Times

A student writing a research paper illustrates confirmation bias when he only references resources in line with his thesis, and he excludes any contradictory evidence.

Huffington Post

Given experimental data reporting the contradictory findings of A β toxicity in endothelial cell culture [ 9, 10, 43], the present work first involved confirmation of whether fA β1 40 treatment causes any significant cell death in the present experimental paradigm.

BioMed Research International

The problem of confirmation bias — the tendency of people to be trapped by preexisting assumptions and to select facts that support their own views while overlooking contradictory ones — is a well-established finding of social science.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contradictory confirmation", ensure the context clearly indicates that the confirmation exists despite the presence of conflicting information. This helps avoid ambiguity and strengthens the impact of your statement.

Common error

Avoid automatically associating "contradictory confirmation" with a negative outcome. While it often implies uncertainty, it can also highlight the complexity of a situation where conflicting pieces of information ultimately lead to a solid confirmation. Consider whether you want to use a more direct phrasing.

Linguistic Context

"Contradictory confirmation" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "contradictory" modifies the noun "confirmation". Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically sound. It describes a situation where a confirmation exists despite the presence of conflicting or opposing information.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Contradictory confirmation" is a phrase used to describe a confirmation that exists despite conflicting information or evidence. While grammatically correct, it is relatively infrequent. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is correct. Due to the limited examples, its usage frequency is categorized as missing. It is best used when you want to emphasize the unexpected nature of a confirmation amidst conflicting data. Alternatives include "conflicting affirmation" and "paradoxical validation". Remember to use the phrase carefully, ensuring the context clarifies that a confirmation exists despite contradictory elements, avoiding potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conflicting affirmation

Emphasizes the presence of conflicting elements within the affirmation itself.

conflicting corroboration

Similar to "conflicting affirmation", but specifically related to corroborating evidence.

paradoxical validation

Highlights the paradoxical nature of the validation process.

inconsistent verification

Focuses on the lack of consistency in the verification process.

dubious confirmation

Implies that the confirmation is questionable or uncertain.

discordant corroboration

Stresses the disharmony present in the corroborating evidence.

unreliable verification

Focuses on the untrustworthy nature of the verification process.

ambiguous confirmation

Highlights the lack of clarity in the confirmation.

equivocal endorsement

Indicates a hesitant or uncertain form of endorsement.

tenuous validation

Suggests the validation is weak or fragile.

FAQs

How can "contradictory confirmation" be used effectively in a sentence?

"Contradictory confirmation" works best when you want to emphasize the surprising or complex nature of a confirmation that arises despite conflicting information. For example, "Despite the "conflicting reports", we received a contradictory confirmation of the deal from an inside source."

What are some alternatives to "contradictory confirmation"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "conflicting affirmation", "paradoxical validation", or "inconsistent verification". The best choice will depend on the specific nuances you want to convey.

Is "contradictory confirmation" grammatically correct?

Yes, "contradictory confirmation" is grammatically correct. It combines an adjective (contradictory) with a noun (confirmation) to describe a specific type of confirmation.

What does "contradictory confirmation" imply?

"Contradictory confirmation" implies that even though there are conflicting pieces of information or evidence, something is still confirmed. This suggests a complex situation where the confirmation might be surprising, uncertain, or require further investigation.