The phrase "contrary to common expectation" is correct and can be used in written English
It is typically used to indicate that something goes against what is usually predicted or anticipated. Example: Contrary to common expectation, the inexperienced team was able to beat the reigning champions in the final match of the tournament.
We find that, contrary to common expectations, formal educational attainment is not positively associated with the probability or level of OSS contributions.
In contrast to many other studies we found persistent SWR also in the subsoil and not only in the humic topsoil, 2. The shape of the wetting front is contrary to common expectations for homogeneous sandy soils and 3.
In the case of wind excitation, surprising results are found that the fluctuation part of the structural response is not always dominated by the lowest frequency modes, contrary to common expectations.
The experimental results show that the growth of stoichiometric B2 phase (NiAl) is – contrary to common expectations – more sluggish as compared to that of Ni-rich alloys, despite the hindering effect of solute rejection on the growth rate which seems to occur only in the latter.
The recent history of urbanization has evolved quite contrary to common expectations.
Contrary to common expectations, the instrumental assessment were at variance, particularly in the distinction of skin reactivity according to the intake or avoidance of HRT.
Perhaps contrary to common expectations we found the associations between MI and the dependent variables of mortality to be negative, meaning that hospitals with a more mature quality improvement system had higher mortality rates than other hospitals.
We observed that MPO values rose after treatment contrary to common sense expectations.
That seemed contrary to common sense.
Contrary to common belief, these things are instinctive".
