contrary to experience

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contrary to experience" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something goes against what is typically observed or known based on past experiences. Example: "Contrary to experience, the results of the experiment were unexpectedly positive."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

The device runs contrary to experience, wouldn't you say?

The New York Times - Books

Baseball feels like life sometimes, and when, contrary to experience, all goes well out there... we feel an end-of-the-day sort of satisfaction that is deeper than any "We're Number One!" exultation.

The New Yorker

The many eminent legal scholars who have considered the rule denying recovery in the absence of impact are virtually unanimous in condemning it as unjust and contrary to experience [45 N.J. 568] and logic.

Harvard University

And this result, they point out, is contrary to experience, since, at the end of the measurement process, although we may be uncertain of the position of the pointer, the pointer itself is never in an indeterminate superposition of different positions.

SEP

If the only legitimate sense of numerical sameness were the "total" sense, then we would have to believe either that we don't persist or that, contrary to experience, we don't change (perhaps, because we are not what we think we are).

SEP

Kant goes on to point out that if inertia were to entail an active force of resistance, then it would be possible that when one moving body hits another, the moving body has to apply part of its motion solely to overcome the inertia of the one at rest and might not have any motion left over, as it were, to set the body at rest into motion, which is contrary to experience (and Proposition 2).

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Contrary to experiences in other countries with primary care organizations, GP networks in Italy are organizational arrangements in which every member is a GP and specialists are not involved.

BMC Health Services Research

Contrary to expectations, experiencing disease-related morbidity during the six-month follow-up on its own was not an independent predictor for EQ-5D or EQ-VAS outcomes.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

On the contrary, we expect patients to experience similar positive effects on the treatment-related side effects as other cancer groups.

BMJ Open

Experience counts on the big nights, and contrary to opinion, experience can be bought.

The New York Times - Sports

Beginning with the behaviour of light (and all other electromagnetic radiation), the theory of special relativity draws conclusions that are contrary to everyday experience but fully confirmed by experiments.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contrary to experience", clearly state the experience being contradicted to provide context and enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "contrary to experience" when the expected experience is vague or not easily understood by the reader. Always provide enough context so that the deviation from the expected experience is clear.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary to experience" functions as a prepositional phrase, often used as an introductory element to signal a deviation from expected or typical outcomes. As Ludwig AI explains, this shows it's grammatically correct and frequently used in quality sources.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Academia

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contrary to experience" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to introduce statements that deviate from typical observations. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, ranging from science and news to academia. The phrase serves to emphasize an unexpected or unusual situation. For best use, always clearly define the experience being contradicted to provide clarity. Consider alternatives like "against common experience" if a slight shift in emphasis is desired. While not extremely frequent, the phrase appears reliably in authoritative sources, ensuring its acceptability in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

against common experience

Replaces 'contrary to' with 'against', emphasizing opposition to general knowledge.

in contrast to experience

Uses 'in contrast to' instead of 'contrary to', focusing on the difference from typical events.

defying expectation

Highlights the unexpected nature of the situation, rather than contrasting it with prior experiences.

at odds with experience

Indicates a conflict or disagreement with what is normally encountered.

running counter to past events

Emphasizes conflict against a backdrop of past events.

deviating from the norm

Focuses on departure from what is usual or expected.

belies prior understanding

Highlights how something contradicts previous comprehension.

opposed to what one usually finds

States the divergence using more descriptive language.

contradicting established norms

Draws attention to contradicting what is deemed established within society.

not in keeping with reality

Focuses on the departure from what is considered true.

FAQs

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

Use "contrary to experience" to introduce a statement that opposes typical or expected observations. For example, "Contrary to experience, the experiment yielded unexpected positive results."

What can I say instead of "contrary to experience"?

You can use alternatives like "against common experience", "in contrast to experience", or "defying expectation" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "contrary to experience" or "contrary to expectations"?

The choice depends on the specific context. "Contrary to experience" is used when something goes against past observations, while "contrary to expectations" focuses on defying anticipated outcomes.

What is the difference between "contrary to experience" and "not in keeping with reality"?

"Contrary to experience" highlights a conflict with usual observations, while "not in keeping with reality"/"not in keeping with reality" suggests a departure from what is considered true or factual.