contrary to our hypothesis

USAGE SUMMARY

"contrary to our hypothesis" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to explain that the results of an experiment or research ran counter to what you originally predicted. For example: "Contrary to our hypothesis, the results of the experiment showed that the new drug had no effect on treating the patient's symptoms."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Contrary to our hypothesis, serum AGEs were not associated with muscular strength in HD patients.

Nature

Contrary to our hypothesis, nandrolone treatment decreased voluntary alcohol consumption in both AA and Wistar rats.

Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior

These findings suggest that, contrary to our hypothesis, SCOP/PHLPP1 may promote hippocampal survival in the acute post-injury period.

Nature

Contrary to our hypothesis, the level of DHA in serum phospholipids was significantly higher in subjects with minor depression.

Nature

However, contrary to our hypothesis, no significant direct relationship between severity of alcohol use and sleep disturbances was revealed.

Addictive Behaviors

Contrary to our hypothesis, the CA and no-CA group network structures were highly similar (i.e. correlation between the 45 regularized RF interrelations of each group; r = 0.94).

Nature

Contrary to our hypothesis, the exacerbation of hyperoxic lung injury in CD73−/− seemingly contradicts our findings in ADA-deficient newborn mice.

Nature

This is contrary to our hypothesis H5a.

Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research

Contrary to our hypothesis, however, our lithium-treated patients demonstrated worse early information processing.

International Journal of Bipolar Disorders

However, contrary to our hypothesis, there were no significant differences between groups on perceived life satisfaction.

Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica

Contrary to our hypothesis, a negative relationship between power distance orientation and preference for moral leadership is found.

Frontiers of Business Research in China

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contrary to our hypothesis", clearly state the original hypothesis and then present the contradicting results. This provides context and emphasizes the unexpected nature of the findings.

Common error

Avoid using "contrary to our hypothesis" when the results only partially deviate from the hypothesis. Use it only when the results directly contradict the initial prediction, otherwise, use phrases like "partially supported" or "showed a different trend".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary to our hypothesis" functions as a discourse marker or transitional phrase. It signals a shift in the narrative, indicating that the subsequent information will present a result that is the opposite of what was initially expected. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

100%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contrary to our hypothesis" is a standard phrase in academic and scientific writing used to introduce findings that contradict the initial predictions. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct and serves as a signal to the reader that the expected outcome was not observed. The phrase is most commonly found in scientific contexts, where it's crucial to acknowledge and explain deviations from the anticipated results. When using this phrase, ensure the contradictory nature of the findings is clear and well-supported by the data. Related phrases, like "in contradiction to our hypothesis" or "against our initial prediction", can also be used to express similar ideas while diversifying your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in contradiction to our hypothesis

Replaces "contrary" with "in contradiction", emphasizing the opposing nature of the findings.

in opposition to our hypothesis

Substitutes "contrary" with "in opposition", highlighting the conflicting nature of the results.

the results contradict our hypothesis

Focuses on the results as the source of contradiction.

against our initial prediction

Replaces "contrary to our hypothesis" with a direct statement about the prediction being incorrect.

our hypothesis was not supported by the data

Similar to the previous phrase but more formal.

our hypothesis was disproven

States directly that the hypothesis was not supported by the results.

the data does not support our hypothesis

Emphasizes that the data fails to provide evidence for the hypothesis.

our findings defied our expectations

Uses "defied our expectations" to express surprise at the unexpected outcome.

unexpectedly, our hypothesis was incorrect

Adds emphasis on the surprise element of the finding.

the evidence suggests otherwise

A more general statement indicating that the evidence points in a different direction.

FAQs

How do I use "contrary to our hypothesis" in a sentence?

Use "contrary to our hypothesis" to introduce results that contradict your initial prediction. For example: "Contrary to our hypothesis, the new drug showed no effect."

What can I say instead of "contrary to our hypothesis"?

You can use alternatives like "in contradiction to our hypothesis", "against our initial prediction", or "the results contradict our hypothesis" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to explicitly state "contrary to our hypothesis" when results differ?

No, it's not always necessary. You can also present the results and then discuss the discrepancy in the discussion section, stating how the findings relate to existing theories.

What's the difference between "contrary to our hypothesis" and "unexpectedly"?

"Contrary to our hypothesis" specifically indicates a contradiction of the original prediction. "Unexpectedly" simply implies surprise, and the result might still align with broader theories or expectations. "Unexpectedly" doesn't necessarily negate the hypothesis; it only suggests a surprise finding.