contrary signal

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contrary signal" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate a signal or indication that opposes or contradicts another signal or expectation. Example: "The market reacted to the contrary signal from the economic report, leading to unexpected fluctuations in stock prices."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"To say that we are going to put an arbitrary cap as the budget has done on the amount of tax relief that can be claimed just seems to me to send a very contrary signal to all the messages that the government has been putting out up to now".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

But M.'s brain has received no contrary signals that would shift its assumptions.

The New Yorker

The median dividing Broadway is generally about 20 feet wide, said Scott Gastel, a spokesman for the city's Department of Transportation, adding that, in the absence of any contrary signals, left turns at those intersections are permitted if it is safe.

The New York Times

On the contrary, signal-dependent kernels can provide improved time-frequency representation and have been proposed for various applications [28 31].

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

On the contrary, signaling and structural proteins showed minor changes.

BMC Plant Biology

On the contrary, signals down the top rankings are the ones finally replicating.

BMC Genomics

On the contrary, signals corresponding to proteins present in the mitochondrial matrix such as Ethe1, or in the inner membrane such as Ndufa9 remained protected from PK degradation.

Human Molecular Genetics

On the contrary, no signal was detected in the one of GST incubates without APIP12 (Fig. 2b).

Rice

Contrary, the signal from the C j is included in interference for R j ∉ A i i.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

On the contrary, the signal for fragments a and b was quite faint.

BMC Plant Biology

On the contrary, calcium signal can modulate these proteins expression and increase in [Ca2+]i was described to induce Bcl-2 expression through CREB (Calcium Response Element Binding protein) activation [ 14].

Apoptosis : an international journal on programmed cell death

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contrary signal", ensure the context clearly establishes what the original or expected signal is for the contrary signal to oppose. For example, "Despite the positive earnings report, the CEO's resignation sent a "contrary signal" to investors".

Common error

A common mistake is to assume that the absence of an expected signal is a "contrary signal". Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. A "contrary signal" implies an active indication opposing the original one, not simply a lack of the original signal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary signal" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "contrary" modifies the noun "signal". Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is usable, typically employed to denote an indication that opposes a previous or expected one. It modifies the meaning of signal to convey an opposite or conflicting message.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

65%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "contrary signal" is a grammatically sound and usable term to indicate a signal that opposes or contradicts a prior expectation or indication. As Ludwig AI suggests, it is a valid way to describe such a situation. While relatively uncommon, the phrase is primarily used in scientific and news contexts to highlight conflicting data or mixed messages. When employing this phrase, ensure the context makes clear what the original signal is and that the "contrary signal" presents a genuine opposition, not just an absence of the expected signal. Alternatives like "opposing indication" or "conflicting message" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opposing indication

Changes the noun from "signal" to "indication", emphasizing the act of pointing out something in opposition.

conflicting message

Replaces "signal" with "message", highlighting the communication aspect of the contradiction.

contradictory sign

Uses "sign" as a synonym for "signal" and "contradictory" for "contrary", maintaining a similar level of formality.

reverse cue

Substitutes "signal" with "cue" suggesting a hint or indication in the opposite direction.

divergent trend

Focuses on a pattern or direction that is different from the expected one, using "trend" instead of "signal".

opposite indicator

Emphasizes the role of the signal as a point for evaluation by using "indicator".

inconsistent communication

Shifts the focus to the lack of harmony or agreement in the information being conveyed.

unharmonious message

This alternative highlights the discord or lack of agreement between different signals.

counter suggestion

This alternative focuses on an advice or proposal that goes against the initial one.

disagreeing implication

This alternative suggests that the meaning or conclusion drawn from the signal is not in accordance with another one.

FAQs

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

You can use "contrary signal" to indicate a signal that opposes or contradicts a previous one. For instance, "The drop in unemployment rate sent a positive signal, but the simultaneous decrease in wages sent a "contrary signal" about the overall health of the economy".

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

Alternatives include "opposing indication", "conflicting message", or "contradictory sign", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "contrary signal" in formal writing?

Yes, "contrary signal" is appropriate for formal writing, especially when discussing opposing trends, conflicting data, or mixed messages. However, consider the specific context and whether a more precise term might be more suitable.

What is the difference between a "contrary signal" and a "false positive"?

A "contrary signal" indicates a real, opposing indication. A "false positive", on the other hand, is an incorrect indication that something is present when it is not. For example, a "contrary signal" might be declining sales despite increased marketing, while a "false positive" would be a test incorrectly indicating the presence of a disease.