contrary to expectation

USAGE SUMMARY

"contrary to expectation" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is used to describe when something happens differently than what was expected. For example, "The stock market plummeted despite the overwhelming optimism of analysts, contrary to expectation."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Contrary to expectation, Pakistan struck back with its air force.

The Washington Post

Contrary to expectation, the censor board will not be abolished.

The Guardian

This is contrary to expectation for eigenvalue problem.

Journal of Computational Physics

Contrary to expectation, fruiting peaks were neither predictable nor complementary.

Acta Oecologica

Contrary to expectation, most conversational laughter was not a response to jokes or humorous stories.

The Guardian - Books

Yet contrary to expectation, the corporation will not be caught on the hop.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Contrary to expectation, α common a chain associ-ates with all five immunoglobulin classes.

Nature

It worked, contrary to expectation (mine), on so many levels it's hard to tease them apart.

The Guardian - Music

Contrary to expectation, odd lot investors are paying higher prices than round lot investors.

The North American Journal of Economics and Finance

Contrary to expectation, no evidence of a coherent poleward coastal flow across the gulf was found.

Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers

Contrary to expectation, about 94% of these areas were in habitats created by human activities.

Journal of Arid Environments

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contrary to expectation" to clearly signal a deviation from what might be logically assumed. This phrase works well when setting up a contrast or highlighting an unforeseen outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "contrary to expectation" when a simple negation would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose. For example, instead of "Contrary to expectation, the team did not win", use "The team did not win" if the expectation isn't central to your point.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary to expectation" functions as a discourse marker or transitional phrase. It serves to introduce a statement that deviates from what is normally anticipated or predicted. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contrary to expectation" is a versatile phrase used to indicate surprise or highlight outcomes that deviate from predictions. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound and frequently appears in both scientific and news contexts. While a common phrase, ensure that its use adds meaningful contrast rather than unnecessary verbosity. Concise alternatives like "unexpectedly" or "surprisingly" can be used depending on the context. When using this phrase, ensure it directly precedes the unexpected event or outcome to clearly signal the deviation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Contrary to what was anticipated

More verbose restatement of the original phrase.

Against expectations

Shortened and slightly less formal version.

Surprisingly

Similar to unexpectedly, but slightly more emphatic.

Unexpectedly

A simpler adverb conveying surprise.

Against all odds

Emphasizes overcoming significant obstacles or improbabilities.

In an unforeseen manner

Highlights the unpredictability of the event.

In defiance of expectations

Highlights a deliberate contradiction of what was predicted.

As it turned out

Indicates a revelation of the true outcome.

Ironically

Highlights a situation where the opposite of what was expected occurs.

Deviating from the norm

Focuses on the departure from typical or expected behavior.

FAQs

How can I use "contrary to expectation" in a sentence?

Use "contrary to expectation" to introduce a statement that is the opposite of what was predicted or anticipated. For example: "Contrary to expectation, the stock market rose sharply after the economic announcement."

What's a more concise way to express "contrary to expectation"?

Alternatives such as "unexpectedly", "surprisingly", or /s/against+all+odds can often replace "contrary to expectation" for a more concise statement.

Is "contrary to expectation" formal or informal?

"Contrary to expectation" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, though it leans slightly towards the formal side. Consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing when deciding whether to use it.

How does "contrary to expectation" differ from "in contrast to expectation"?

Both phrases convey a similar meaning, but "contrary to expectation" emphasizes the element of surprise or unexpectedness more strongly. "In contrast to expectation" is a slightly more neutral observation.