contrary to prior expectations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contrary to prior expectations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing outcomes or results that differ from what was previously anticipated or believed. Example: "The results of the experiment were surprising, as they were contrary to prior expectations."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

We show that, contrary to prior expectations, different coding methods can have a significant impact on the topology of the resulting trees.

University of California, Berkeley

The model demonstrates stress tolerance, adaptation and initiation of pro-apoptotic response profiles, and also suggests, contrary to prior expectations, that the UPR might turn gene expression on and off repeatedly under certain conditions.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

In the past few years, we have shown that, contrary to prior work, arc counts are in approximate agreement with theoretical expectations; the critical measurement to resolving this tension has been our measurement of the lensed source redshift distribution.

University of Chicago

Contrary to prior research (e.g., [Lesch, M.F., 2003.

Applied Ergonomics

During our trip, I tried to understand the impact of the PDS system and contrary to my prior expectations, I found that the program does make a big difference to the lives of the rural poor.

Cornell University

Contrary to our prior expectation, on average the common ancestor has the most environmental variance, not the least (Table 1; Supplemental Figure S1).

Plosone

In conclusion, under the assumptions that k SP = k SM and that replicases do not discriminate between intra-species and inter-species replication, strand preference per se is not under any selective forces in a well-mixed system, and, therefore, contrary to a prior expectation from the optimization of the growth, its evolution is neutral.

Biology Direct

Contrary to our expectations, higher prior TSG affiliation predicted higher TSG affiliation at follow-up.

Addiction

Contrary to our expectations and a prior study, 8 in each case, the higher number of surviving children was not significantly associated with lower mortality in husbands and wives (see figure 3).

BMJ Open

Contrary to expectations and our prior work (e.g., Farris et al., 2006, 2008b, 2010; Treat et al., 2015a), all six bivariate interactions among the cues were unreliable and small in magnitude.

Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications

Contrary to our expectations, here we found that higher prior TSG experience predicted a higher post-discharge affiliation score.

Addiction

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "contrary to prior expectations", ensure the context clearly establishes what those prior expectations were. This provides clarity and impact to your statement.

Common error

Avoid using "contrary to prior expectations" when referring to general knowledge. It's most effective when addressing specific, previously established anticipations within a defined context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "contrary to prior expectations" functions as an introductory phrase, often acting as a discourse marker. According to Ludwig AI, it signals a contrast or deviation from what was previously anticipated or predicted. This sets the stage for presenting surprising or unexpected findings.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

40%

Academia

30%

News & Media

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contrary to prior expectations" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that serves to introduce information that deviates from what was previously anticipated. According to Ludwig AI, it's effective in highlighting surprising or unexpected results, particularly in academic, scientific, and professional contexts. While versatile, it's essential to ensure the context clearly establishes what those "prior expectations" were to maintain clarity and impact. Remember to consider alternative phrasing, such as "against expectations" or "unexpectedly", to best suit your specific needs. The phrase finds prominent use in science, academia, and news media, making it a valuable tool for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

against expectations

Shorter and more direct, focusing on the opposition to what was expected without specifying 'prior'.

unexpectedly

Emphasizes the surprise element, indicating something happened in a way that wasn't predicted.

in defiance of prior beliefs

Highlights a conflict with pre-existing beliefs, adding a stronger sense of contradiction.

in opposition to what was foreseen

Focuses on the predictive aspect, suggesting a contrast with what was anticipated.

differing from previous assumptions

Highlights the difference in assumptions, suggesting a change in understanding.

at odds with previous anticipations

Emphasizes conflict, suggesting disagreement with earlier expectations.

bucking prior trends

Implies a deviation from established patterns, often used in statistical or analytical contexts.

flying in the face of past predictions

A more emphatic way of saying something contradicts previous predictions.

contrary to what one would have thought

Highlights the divergence from a common or logical assumption.

instead of what was anticipated

Directly replaces the expected outcome with the actual one.

FAQs

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

You can use "contrary to prior expectations" to introduce a result or finding that differs from what was previously predicted or assumed. For example, "Contrary to prior expectations, the experiment yielded unexpected results."

What phrases are similar to "contrary to prior expectations"?

Similar phrases include "against expectations", "unexpectedly", or "in defiance of prior beliefs". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it okay to use "contrary to prior expectations" in formal writing?

Yes, "contrary to prior expectations" is suitable for formal writing, especially in academic, scientific, or business contexts, where it's important to highlight deviations from established assumptions.

What's the difference between "contrary to prior expectations" and "contrary to current expectations"?

"Contrary to prior expectations" refers to expectations held in the past, while "contrary to current expectations" refers to expectations held at the present time. Use the phrase that accurately reflects when the expectations were held.