contrary explanations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contrary explanations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing different interpretations or reasons that oppose each other regarding a particular topic or situation. Example: "The researchers presented contrary explanations for the observed phenomenon, leading to further debate in the scientific community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the contrary explanation seems more likely.

The New Yorker

In order to see if the existence of these costs alone can explain the stockholding puzzle, or if, by the contrary, further explanations should be explored, we look at the risky assets portfolio of a selected subsample of the Spanish households.

SERIEs

To integrate Prior's approach to document analysis, documents were continually re-coded using new themes identified throughout analysis, paying attention to alternate or contrary examples and explanations.

BMC Health Services Research

And contrary to this explanation, those in charge using their power to stifle criticism of themselves is the very heart of censorship.

Huffington Post

Yet, contrary to this explanation, the total fraction of ORFs generated via random processes was observed to decrease with increasing genome size.

Plosone

Furthermore, premorbid functioning did not contribute to the explanation, contrary to findings in schizophrenia [ 35, 36].

BMC Psychiatry

Contrary to the explanation of Konczak et al. [ 25], our correlation analyses showed that the correlation of EH with AH was much stronger in the young adults (r = 0.624) than in the older adults (r = 0.342).

BMC Geriatrics

Technique use was also found to significantly follow an inverted U-shaped curve, contrary to some prior explanations.

Data & Knowledge Engineering

On the contrary, the last two explanations might indicate a poor prognosis.

BMJ Open

"A tiny club - ground capacity 15,000 (a brick wall behind one of the goals) and you usually get about 8 or 9,000 - which has been up with the big boys these last few seasons contrary to all rational explanation.

The Guardian - Sport

This interpretation in terms of anagenesis, or transformation, is contrary to the accepted explanation of speciation within evolutionary biology, which is cladogenesis, or branching (e.g., Futuyma [2013]).

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contrary explanations", ensure the context clearly indicates what the explanations are in contrast to. Providing this context enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "contrary explanations" without clearly establishing the baseline or expected explanations being contrasted. This can leave the reader confused about the point of comparison.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary explanations" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "contrary" modifies the noun "explanations." It indicates explanations that are opposite to, or differ significantly from, a given or expected explanation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "contrary explanations" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, referring to explanations that oppose or contrast with established or expected viewpoints. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. While relatively rare, it is employed across various domains such as science, news, and formal communication. To enhance clarity, always provide sufficient context when using this phrase. Alternatives include "opposing explanations" or "conflicting explanations", each carrying slightly different connotations. Be mindful not to overuse the phrase without adequately setting the stage for the contrast.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opposing explanations

Replaces "contrary" with "opposing", emphasizing the conflicting nature of the explanations.

conflicting explanations

Uses "conflicting" to highlight the disagreement between the explanations.

divergent explanations

Emphasizes the different directions or perspectives of the explanations.

alternate explanations

Focuses on the existence of different possible explanations.

alternative interpretations

Shifts the focus to interpretations rather than explanations, implying a subjective viewpoint.

differing accounts

Presents the explanations as accounts or narratives that disagree.

disagreeing viewpoints

Highlights the clashing perspectives behind the explanations.

antithetical explanations

Uses "antithetical" to strongly emphasize the direct opposition between the explanations.

contradictory accounts

Focuses on the direct contradiction between the explanations.

inconsistent explanations

Highlights the lack of consistency or agreement between the explanations.

FAQs

How can I use "contrary explanations" in a sentence?

You can use "contrary explanations" to introduce different interpretations or reasons that oppose each other. For example, "The researchers presented contrary explanations for the observed phenomenon, leading to further debate in the scientific community."

What can I say instead of "contrary explanations"?

You can use alternatives like "opposing explanations", "conflicting explanations", or "divergent explanations" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "contrary explanations" or "contradictory explanations"?

Both "contrary explanations" and "contradictory explanations" are grammatically correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Contrary" suggests an opposition or contrast, while "contradictory" implies a direct opposition or inconsistency. Choose the word that best fits the specific meaning you want to convey.

What's the difference between "contrary explanations" and "alternative explanations"?

"Contrary explanations" suggest explanations that oppose or contrast with a main or expected explanation. "Alternative explanations" simply suggest different possible explanations, without necessarily implying opposition. The difference lies in whether you want to highlight the contrast or simply offer different possibilities.