contrary to our expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'contrary to our expectations' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to something that happened in a way which was different than what you expected. For example: "Although we expected to win the election, the results were contrary to our expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

At higher levels, however, the molecular weight increased with increasing bisimide concentrations, contrary to our expectations.

Polymer

Contrary to our expectations, soil sterilization reduced earthworm performance, potentially through elimination of food items.

Pedobiologia

Litter nutrient concentrations also did not vary significantly across seasons, again contrary to our expectations.

Forest Ecology and Management

Conversely, and contrary to our expectations, vegetation seasonality was positively related to herd density.

Remote Sensing of Environment

Contrary to our expectations, the enhanced antifungal efficacy was achieved without increasing bacterial killing.

Nature

And contrary to our expectations, economy did not decline with age".

The New York Times

Contrary to our expectations, soil carbon stocks in the top 10 cm did not change with young secondary forest development.

Forest Ecology and Management

However, contrary to our expectations, sleep-related consolidation did not further accentuate these content-specific topographic profiles.

Biological Psychology

Contrary to our expectations, sick leave was longer in patients who received omeprazole than in those who did not.

Gaceta Sanitaria

Contrary to our expectations, we found that both low and moderate stocking rates failed to maintain landscape diversity.

Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics

Contrary to our expectations, bottom-up foragers had larger connectivity values by visiting more patches across the landscape.

Ecological Modelling

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contrary to our expectations" to clearly indicate when an outcome or result differs from what was initially anticipated. This adds emphasis to the unexpected nature of the event.

Common error

Avoid using "contrary to our expectations" for minor deviations or assumptions. Reserve it for instances where there was a strong, justified reason to believe something would occur differently.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary to our expectations" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces a statement or observation that is the opposite of what was anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage across a multitude of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

76%

News & Media

12%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "contrary to our expectations" is a widely used and grammatically correct prepositional phrase to express surprise or deviation from an anticipated outcome. Ludwig AI confirms that it's very common in formal writing and scientific publications, though it also appears in news and business contexts. When using this phrase, make sure the situation genuinely defies your expectations, avoid weaker alternatives, and be prepared to explain the unexpected result. Remember, you can use similar phrases such as "against our predictions" to add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Against our predictions

Replaces "contrary to" with "against" and "expectations" with "predictions", slightly altering the tone.

In contrast to our anticipations

Swaps "expectations" with the similar word "anticipations" and includes "in" before "contrast".

Contrary to what we had foreseen

Replaces "expectations" with "what we had foreseen", emphasizing the element of prior planning.

In opposition to what we expected

Uses "in opposition to" to convey the contrast, making it more formal.

Against our original outlook

Substitutes "contrary to" with "against" and changes "expectations" to "original outlook" adding emphasis on the initial viewpoint.

Differing from our anticipation

Replaces "contrary to" with "differing from" and "expectations" with "anticipation", resulting in a more descriptive expression.

Deviating from our forecasts

Replaces "contrary to" with "deviating from" and "expectations" with "forecasts", implying a more specific prediction.

Unanticipatedly

A more formal synonym for "unexpectedly", emphasizing the lack of anticipation.

Unexpectedly

A shorter, more concise way to express the unexpected nature of an outcome.

Surprisingly

Similar to "unexpectedly", this adverb highlights the element of surprise.

FAQs

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

You can use "contrary to our expectations" to introduce a result or finding that differs from what you initially predicted. For example, "Contrary to our expectations, the experiment yielded different results."

What's a more concise way to say "contrary to our expectations"?

Alternatives include "unexpectedly" or "surprisingly", although these options may lack the specific emphasis on prior anticipation.

Is it appropriate to use "contrary to our expectations" in formal writing?

Yes, "contrary to our expectations" is suitable for formal writing. However, consider alternatives like "in contrast to our anticipations" for a more sophisticated tone.

What is the difference between "contrary to our expectations" and "in line with our expectations"?

"Contrary to our expectations" indicates that the outcome was different from what was predicted, while "in line with our expectations" means the outcome matched the predictions.