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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
contrary with
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
'contrary with' is not a correct phrase in written English.
The proper phrase to use is 'contrary to' or 'in contrast to'. For example: This year's results were contrary to what we expected.
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Alternative expressions(19)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
60 human-written examples
"Recent news accounts to the contrary with respect to ConAgra Foods are misleading".
News & Media
"On the contrary, with its creation, he was forming a template for his life.
News & Media
Later he added: "Not every answer is use of military force -- quite the contrary with respect to the U.S. policy".
News & Media
On the contrary, with perhaps 500,000 people on the verge of starvation, the country needs food aid.
News & Media
On the contrary, with a gun on my hip I could hardly pass as a peaceable noncombatant.
News & Media
On the contrary, with this effort and the results it produced, it means we must stay the course".
News & Media
On the contrary, with the coming of war, in 1939, S.S. ambitions for the camps grew rapidly, along with their prisoner population.
News & Media
Thus, this is in contrary with the assumption of (79).
This is contrary with (x ( t ) >0) for (tgeq T).
That is contrary with (x ( t ) >0) for (tgeq T).
On the contrary, with population, the higher the numbers, the higher the infrastructure stock will be.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Avoid using "contrary with" in formal writing; instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "contrary to" or "in contrast to".
Common error
The preposition "with" typically indicates association or accompaniment, not opposition. When expressing contrast, use prepositions like "to" or phrases like "in contrast to" to maintain grammatical accuracy.
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
2.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "contrary with" functions as a prepositional phrase intending to express opposition or contrast. However, Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically incorrect, as the correct form is "contrary to".
Frequent in
Science
35%
News & Media
65%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
While "contrary with" appears frequently across various sources, including news and scientific publications, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. The correct and preferred alternatives are "contrary to" or "in contrast to", which should be used in formal writing to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy. Although prevalent, "contrary with" should be avoided to ensure effective communication.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
contrary to
Replaces "with" with "to" to form a grammatically correct prepositional phrase expressing opposition.
in contrast to
Uses the phrase "in contrast to" to clearly indicate a difference or opposition.
at odds with
Emphasizes a state of disagreement or conflict with something else.
in opposition to
Highlights a direct opposing stance or viewpoint.
conflicting with
Suggests a clash or incompatibility between two things.
in contradiction with
Indicates a direct logical inconsistency or contradiction.
in defiance of
Implies a deliberate act of resistance or disobedience.
disagreeing with
Expresses a difference of opinion or a lack of consensus.
inversely related to
Describes a relationship where one thing decreases as the other increases.
counter to
Indicates something that opposes or runs against another thing.
FAQs
What is the correct way to express opposition using "contrary"?
The correct phrases are "contrary to" or "in contrast to". For example, instead of "contrary with expectations", say "contrary to expectations".
Are there alternatives to "contrary to"?
Yes, you can use alternatives like "in contrast to", "at odds with", or "in opposition to" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.
Which is correct, "contrary with" or "contrary to"?
"Contrary to" is the correct and grammatically accepted phrase. "Contrary with" is considered incorrect.
When should I use "in contrast to" instead of "contrary to"?
Both phrases can often be used interchangeably, but "in contrast to" may be preferred when you want to explicitly emphasize the act of comparing two different things. For example, "In contrast to last year's losses, this year we have a profit" sounds more natural than "Contrary to last year's losses..."
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
82%
Authority and reliability
2.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested