contrary habit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contrary habit" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a behavior or practice that is opposite to what is expected or typical. Example: "Despite his usual punctuality, he developed a contrary habit of arriving late to meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

This sense is innate or natural, and can be displaced only by "contrary habit and custom" (1699 1714: 25), although it may on occasion be overcome by "rage, lust, or any other counterworking passion" (1699 1714: 35).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

On the contrary, those habits of fond imitation, during a pre-YouTube era of home video, form the emotional engine of this actor-director's latest DIY foray into pop culture, "Your Brother.

The New York Times

On the contrary in the habit of " avoidance of fried foods", the score was significantly worse, a paradox that might be explained by the very high initial score (tendency towards regression to the mean).

F1000Research

To do so, the practitioner needs to have a proper diet, engage in appropriate physical exercise, and avoid forming habits contrary to nurturing a healthy mind-body condition.

SEP

He writes: We all call barbarous anything that is contrary to our own habits.

The New York Times

An image was created by superimposing successive levels, and, to read it well, it was necessary -- contrary to our modern habits -- to begin with the bottom level and, passing through all the intermediary layers, end with the top one.

The New York Times - Books

Being simultaneously immobile, wakeful and wordless is an experience that runs contrary to all our habits, and for which there is no model in our culture, nothing we can visualise, no narrative we can follow.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The estimation results of the dynamic random-effects probit model, on the contrary, showed that a smoking habit did not have significant effect on LHS.

European Journal of Health Economics

Second, contrary to assumptions of TPB, habit and previous behavior had a unique contribution in explaining future fruit consumption at T2, supporting earlier findings (e.g. [ 15, 28, 42]), and the assumptions of integrative models that acknowledge a direct path of habit and previous behavior [ 32, 43].

BMC Public Health

As the year starts, perhaps you might make a list of habits that run contrary to your most deeply held beliefs and jettison them.

Huffington Post

On the contrary, long-term irregular eating habits were associated with an increased risk of GC.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a personal characteristic, use "contrary habit" to emphasize a deviation from someone's typical behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "contrary habit" to describe someone's inherent personality. It's better suited for describing a behavior pattern that goes against their usual nature or expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary habit" functions as a noun phrase, where "contrary" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "habit". It describes a specific type of habit that is characterized by its oppositional or inconsistent nature. Ludwig examples showcase its usage in academic and general contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contrary habit" describes a behavior that deviates from the expected norm. As highlighted by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and is used to categorize actions inconsistent with typical patterns. While examples are relatively rare, its usage spans diverse contexts, including scientific and news media. When writing, use "contrary habit" to stress deviations from established behavior patterns. Be cautious not to misinterpret it as a fixed trait, as it better describes actions against one’s usual nature. Some useful alternatives are "opposite behavior" or "reverse tendency".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opposite behavior

Replaces "habit" with a broader term, focusing on the action rather than the repeated pattern.

reverse tendency

Emphasizes the inclination towards an opposite direction or action.

opposing custom

Substitutes "habit" with "custom", suggesting a more established or societal practice.

conflicting practice

Highlights the conflict or contradiction inherent in the habit.

deviant behavior

Focuses on the deviation from the norm associated with the behavior.

unconventional routine

Suggests a departure from typical or expected routines.

non-standard practice

Emphasizes the lack of conformity to established standards.

anomalous pattern

Highlights the irregularity or abnormality of the habit.

divergent trend

Focuses on the diverging direction or path of the habit.

unorthodox mannerism

Implies a peculiarity or unusual way of behaving.

FAQs

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

You can use "contrary habit" to describe a behavior that goes against the norm or someone's usual tendencies. For example: "Despite his usual punctuality, he developed a "contrary habit" of arriving late."

What's a good alternative to "contrary habit"?

Alternatives include "opposite behavior", "reverse tendency", or "conflicting practice", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "contrary habit" and "bad habit"?

"Contrary habit" simply denotes a behavior opposite to the expected one, whereas "bad habit" implies that the behavior is undesirable or harmful. They are not interchangeable.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "contrary habit"?

It is appropriate when you want to emphasize that a particular habit is inconsistent with usual behavior or expectations. It's less about the habit being inherently negative and more about its unexpected nature.