contrary to common sense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contrary to common sense" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something goes against what one would normally expect. For example, "It seemed contrary to common sense to spend so much money on something that wasn't necessary."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

That seemed contrary to common sense.

The New York Times - Sports

Contrary to common sense, Stalin rejected our suggestion.

The Guardian

"That is contrary to common sense," he added.

The New York Times

The Labour government declared the principle "contrary to common sense" and abolished it.

The Guardian

"It goes completely contrary to common sense and how I grew up in Iowa".

The New York Times

Contrary to common sense, the classification says there are only two ethnicities in America--Hispanics and non-Hispanics.

Princeton University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

The sentence was, he said, "contrary to common judicial sense, good sense, and worse than the worst expected".

The Guardian

Rather, he said it was "self-defeating" and "contrary to our spirit, and to common sense".

The Guardian - Opinion

Obama, who created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, slammed the move in a lengthy Facebook post, framing it as a political calculation that's "contrary to our spirit, and to common sense".

Vice

Some adolescents define their autonomy by being resolutely contrary, and often do damage to themselves (and others) by being deaf to common sense or to appeals to common standards just to stay contrary.

The Economist

Contrary to common belief, these things are instinctive".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contrary to common sense" to highlight unexpected outcomes or decisions that deviate from what is generally considered reasonable or logical.

Common error

Avoid using "contrary to common sense" when simply expressing a personal opinion. Ensure the statement truly contradicts a widely held belief or understanding, not just individual preference.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary to common sense" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an action, idea, or situation is unexpected or illogical based on general understanding. Ludwig provides examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contrary to common sense" is a versatile phrase used to signal deviations from expected logic or widespread beliefs. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across a range of contexts, from news and media to scientific and academic writing. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure that it accurately reflects a contradiction of a widely held belief, rather than just a personal opinion. Alternative phrases such as "against common sense" or "unintuitive" can be used depending on the desired level of formality or emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

against common sense

Uses "against" instead of "contrary to", emphasizing opposition.

defying common sense

Implies a more active resistance or challenge to what is considered logical.

at odds with common sense

Highlights the conflict or disagreement with generally accepted logic.

runs counter to common sense

Similar to "contrary to", but uses the verb "runs" to suggest a direction of opposition.

defies logic

A more concise way to express the idea of something not making sense.

unintuitive

Focuses on the lack of immediate understanding or instinctive feeling.

counterintuitive

A more formal synonym for unintuitive.

illogical

Emphasizes the absence of logical reasoning.

absurd

Suggests a high degree of irrationality or ridiculousness.

preposterous

Similar to absurd, but potentially more emphatic or exaggerated.

FAQs

How can I use "contrary to common sense" in a sentence?

You can use "contrary to common sense" to introduce a statement that goes against what people generally believe or expect. For example, "Contrary to common sense, sometimes less is more."

What phrases are similar to "contrary to common sense"?

Similar phrases include "against common sense", "defying common sense", or "unintuitive".

Is there a more formal alternative to "contrary to common sense"?

Yes, "counterintuitive" is a more formal and often used alternative, especially in academic or technical writing.

When is it appropriate to use "contrary to common sense"?

Use "contrary to common sense" when you want to emphasize that something is unexpected, illogical on the surface, or goes against standard reasoning. It's best suited when addressing established beliefs or practices.