contrary to initial expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contrary to initial expectations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing outcomes or results that differ from what was originally anticipated or predicted. Example: "Contrary to initial expectations, the project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Contrary to initial expectations, Enron will not have an equity stake in the unit once it is sold.

The New York Times

Contrary to initial expectations, runoff quality did not vary in repose to impervious cover or land use.

Journal of Hydrology

Contrary to initial expectations, FOIA has come to be used mainly by business firms, lawyers and information services, with the news media accounting for only about 6percentt of requests.

The New York Times

In summary, contrary to initial expectations the 3'UTR emerges as a more significant factor than the 5'UTR in determining the eIF4E responsiveness.

Plosone

Contrary to initial expectations, the majority of phytophagous insects use a mixture of ubiquitous volatile compounds, rather than unique, host-specific compounds in the host finding process [7], [8].

Plosone

Despite the large number of eQTLs identified, the transcriptome of circulating monocytes, contrary to initial expectations [7] [10], appeared of modest help to dissect the relationship between genome variability and complex human traits such as cardiovascular risk factors.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Contrary to initial expectation underlined by the literature, that the image is a unitary concept, the obtained results show that overall clients' satisfaction is determined both by the satisfaction with clothing stores and by that of the main anchor food stores as well as of that purchased products quality and the felt pleasantness when visiting a shopping center.

Procedia Economics and Finance

Contrary to initial reports, the cat survived.

Independent

"None [of the reforms] are living up to initial expectations".

Vice

Contrary to these initial expectations, many cancer cell lines were subsequently found to be resistant to TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

BMC Cancer

However, contrary to our initial expectations, this smaller cluster does not correspond to GIII-Euryarchaeota, because fosmids containing 16S rRNA genes of GIII-Euryarchaeota fell in the two clouds (mostly in the bigger cloud).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contrary to initial expectations", ensure you clearly state what the initial expectations were to provide context for the unexpected outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "contrary to initial expectations" when only minor deviations occur. This phrase is most effective when highlighting significant or surprising differences from the original outlook.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary to initial expectations" functions as a discourse marker, specifically a contrastive marker. It signals a shift in the narrative by introducing information that opposes what was previously anticipated. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is used to highlight deviations from predicted or expected outcomes.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

63%

News & Media

32%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contrary to initial expectations" is a useful phrase for highlighting unexpected outcomes. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for formal writing styles and its communicative purpose is to introduce a surprising element. The phrase appears most frequently in scientific and news contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what the initial expectations were. Consider alternatives such as "against original predictions" or "unexpectedly" to vary your writing. Despite any deviations, using it well will lead to high-quality content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

against original predictions

Emphasizes a contrast with the predictions that were made initially.

different from what was anticipated

Focuses on the divergence from the anticipated outcome.

deviating from prior assumptions

Highlights the departure from previously held assumptions.

in contrast to original forecasts

Stresses the difference compared to initial forecasts.

unexpectedly

A simpler adverb emphasizing the surprise element.

surprisingly

Highlights the element of surprise associated with the outcome.

contrary to what one would think

Adds a conversational tone, implying a common sense expectation was defied.

belied initial hopes

Implies that initial hopes were proven to be unfounded.

defied early expectations

Emphasizes the act of going against what was initially expected.

in opposition to preliminary outlook

Highlights a contradiction of a preliminary assessment

FAQs

How can I use "contrary to initial expectations" in a sentence?

You can use "contrary to initial expectations" to introduce a statement that differs from what was originally predicted or anticipated. For instance: "Contrary to initial expectations, the company's profits increased during the recession."

What are some alternatives to "contrary to initial expectations"?

Alternatives include "against original predictions", "different from what was anticipated", or "unexpectedly", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "contrary to initial expectations" or "in line with initial expectations"?

The choice depends on whether the actual outcome aligned with the initial predictions. Use "contrary to initial expectations" when the outcome is different, and use "in line with initial expectations" when the outcome confirms the predictions.

What does "contrary to initial expectations" imply about the situation?

It implies that there was a predefined set of beliefs or predictions about a situation, but the actual results or outcome diverged significantly from those original assumptions. It suggests a degree of surprise or unexpectedness.