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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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contrary to living

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contrary to living" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a contrast with life or living conditions, but it lacks clarity and context for proper usage. Example: "His actions were contrary to living a healthy lifestyle."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

While the tenets of YOLO, the most important new religion of the 21st century, seem contrary to living with your parents, just remember that your parents are TOLO (They Only Live Once).

News & Media

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Our results show that: (1) there is a high significant strength between the level of threat and the living area: the inhabitants of Solidaredad perceive a high level of threat, contrary to those living in Sachaca [F = (2,10); p = .06]; (2) experience of lahars is a strong predictor of a high perception of threat [F = (9,87); p = <.01].

Contrary to expectations, living in more walkable Canadian neighbourhoods was not associated with more total walking.

Science

BMJ Open

They were therefore not reacting strongly to social separation (no whinnies, see also [31]), contrary to young horses living in groups or to riding-centre horses used working with others [16].

Science

Plosone

Contrary to hypotheses, current living arrangements were related to lower total empowerment scores.

The isolated incident described was contrary to everything we live and teach.

News & Media

The New York Times

Contrary to Banksy, who lives a life in secrecy, Kricfalusi was involved in every detail and even oversaw the dubbing of the final soundtrack.

A wealthy, but very old man, wanted by the state as a "fugitive over the sea, contrary to statute", Bourchier lived quietly abroad for his remaining years.

Contrary to Christina, he lived in darkness and in it he was inspired to commit the most horrifying crime on January 8th killing 6 people.

News & Media

Huffington Post

"For me at that time, it was important to live contrary to what was accepted," she said on Wednesday.

News & Media

The New York Times

Through Daniel, we learn how to live/act in a world that may expect us to live contrary to what our God tells us to do -- be and remain faithful to Yahweh is a key theme of the book.

News & Media

Huffington Post
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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, rephrase "contrary to living" to more accurately express the intended meaning. For instance, use alternatives like "detrimental to survival" or "opposed to life".

Common error

Avoid using "contrary to living" when you mean something is simply unconventional or goes against societal norms. The phrase implies a more fundamental opposition to life itself, not just lifestyle choices.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

77%

Authority and reliability

3.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary to living" functions as a prepositional phrase modifying a noun or verb, indicating opposition or contradiction to the act of living. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

17%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "contrary to living" is grammatically valid, it is not a standard or commonly used expression. As noted by Ludwig AI, it lacks clarity and context for proper usage and is not correct. Its primary function is to express opposition to the concept of living, but it is more effective to use clearer and more common alternatives, such as "opposed to life" or "detrimental to survival", depending on the specific context. The register leans toward formal, and its occurrence is relatively rare across various sources. Therefore, exercise caution and consider alternative phrasings for better clarity and impact when aiming to convey this meaning.

FAQs

What does "contrary to living" mean?

The phrase "contrary to living" isn't a standard expression. It could be interpreted as something that opposes or is detrimental to life or the state of being alive. It's often better to use clearer alternatives depending on the intended meaning.

How can I rephrase "contrary to living" for better clarity?

Consider alternatives like "opposed to life", "detrimental to survival", or "incompatible with life" depending on the context.

Is "contrary to living" grammatically correct?

While the words themselves are valid, the phrase "contrary to living" is not commonly used and may sound awkward or grammatically incorrect to many. It is advised to use a more standard expression.

What's a more common phrase similar to "contrary to living"?

A more common phrase would depend on the specific intent. If you mean something opposes life, use "opposed to life". If you mean something threatens survival, use "detrimental to survival".

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Source & Trust

77%

Authority and reliability

3.1/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: