contrary to its title

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contrary to its title" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that does not align with what its title suggests or implies. Example: "The book is quite dull, contrary to its title, which promises an exciting adventure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Contrary to its title, "Women Only" is bookended by men.

The New York Times - Arts

Grove, $21. Contrary to its title, this slender volume could stifle the most persistent of yawns.

The New York Times - Books

"Contrary to its title, this slender volume could stifle the most persistent of yawns," Maggie Galehouse wrote here last year.

The New York Times - Books

She was a guest-blogger back in April, and now she has teamed up with Matt Ginsberg to bring us this Sunday puzzle which, contrary to its title, is actually very pleasant.

The New York Times

"Drool Fish," contrary to its title, looks like a couple of dogs sliced and diced and reassembled into a dripping, trembling assemblage of brown ovals, red snouts and googly green eyes.

The New York Times - Arts

Contrary to its title, the show does not end with David Hockney, but his 1990 "The Valley" is an appropriate choice to represent him because it reminds us that another great strain in British painting is landscape.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Contrary to its misleading title, the Manifesto of the Sixteen had originally fifteen signatories among them some of the most eminent anarchists in Europe and was later countersigned by another hundred.

Wikipedia

What's more, it is contrary to its "spiritual" mission.

HuffPost

Alleges Practices Contrary to Its Spirit, Including Forced Native Labor and Trade Monopolies.

The New York Times

Contrary to its lamest nickname, New Orleans isn't "big".

Vice

Contrary to what its title may suggest, this has nothing to do with being pathetic.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contrary to its title" to immediately highlight an unexpected or ironic aspect of a work, drawing the reader's attention to the divergence between expectation and reality. This is particularly effective in reviews or analytical pieces.

Common error

Avoid using "contrary to its title" when the content aligns perfectly with the title's implication. Ensure a genuine contrast exists, or the phrase becomes misleading and weakens your argument.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary to its title" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a contrasting element or statement, often highlighting an unexpected or ironic aspect. Ludwig AI shows that it sets up a discrepancy between expectation and reality.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "contrary to its title" serves as a valuable tool for introducing unexpected twists and highlighting irony. As indicated by Ludwig, it is grammatically sound and best used when a clear discrepancy exists between a title's implication and the actual content. While commonly found in news and media, it maintains a neutral register suitable for diverse writing contexts. Remember, as Ludwig AI points out, alternatives like "despite its title" or "in contrast to its title" can offer subtle variations in emphasis, enriching your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in contrast to its title

Highlights the difference or opposition between the title and the actual content.

despite its title

Replaces "contrary to" with "despite", indicating that something happens regardless of what the title suggests.

in spite of its title

Similar to "despite", emphasizing that something occurs even with the title.

in opposition to its title

Emphasizes the direct conflict or contradiction between the title and the content.

despite what the title suggests

Expands the phrase to explicitly mention the suggestion made by the title.

notwithstanding its title

Uses a more formal term, "notwithstanding", to introduce the contrasting element.

its title notwithstanding

Inverts the structure while retaining the core meaning.

contrary to what one might expect from its title

Adds an element of expectation, emphasizing the surprise factor.

even though it's titled

Uses a conjunction to explicitly state the contradiction.

although named so

More concise, focusing on the naming aspect and introducing a contrast.

FAQs

How can I use "contrary to its title" in a sentence?

You can use "contrary to its title" to point out a surprising or ironic mismatch between a title and the actual content. For example, "Contrary to its title, the movie was not very thrilling."

What are some alternatives to saying "contrary to its title"?

Alternatives include "despite its title", "in contrast to its title", or "notwithstanding its title", depending on the level of formality you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to use a comma after "contrary to its title"?

Yes, it's generally best practice to use a comma after "contrary to its title" as it introduces a contrasting element and acts as an introductory phrase. For example, "Contrary to its title, the article presented no new findings."

What's the difference between "contrary to its title" and "irrespective of its title"?

"Contrary to its title" emphasizes a direct contradiction or surprise, while "irrespective of its title" implies that the title has no bearing on the content, even if they align. The first suggests a mismatch, and the second suggests irrelevance.