courses contrary to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "courses contrary to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe actions, policies, or decisions that go against established norms, rules, or expectations. Example: "The new regulations implement courses contrary to the previous guidelines set by the organization."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

These courses, contrary to what you reported, charge their residents comparable greens fees and nonresident fees.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Such a belief is, of course, contrary to the teachings of Christianity, which maintains that all have a moral sense, being made in God's image.

The Guardian - Opinion

Of course, contrary to my earlier suggestion about the obvious resonance, it wasn't any kind of horror movie, but a story about a man gradually realising he loves the wife he married for convenience.

The Guardian - Film

That's the effect - but of course, contrary to the essentially unobtrusive verbal technique associated with 'the haiku spirit', a richly-stocked individual mind, a mind brimmed with Shakespeare and the Bible and the Greek, Latin and Welsh languages he studied, is an endlessly active 'mediator' in his poetic picture.

The Guardian - Books

This is, of course, contrary to common moral intuitions.

SEP

This is, of course, contrary to the sometimes deeply ingrained opinion held by some seasoned academics that most undergraduates are a bit dim.

Science Magazine

He requested that he be allowed to rejoin the 2/48th Battalion at the end of the course; contrary to normal Army policy that prevented officers commissioned from the ranks from returning to their previous units.

Wikipedia

This is, of course, quite contrary to classical physics and common sense, which say that the same measurement on the same object in the same state must produce the same result.

Encyclopedia Britannica

(This, of course, is contrary to the experience of many users, and it bears mentioning that I had to call the company and identify myself as a reporter before I got any sort of offer of help).

Forbes

Only about 10percentt of the difference is due to the differences in wages, which of course is contrary to popular belief and to the contentions of our country's 'free traders,' who it seems like blaming American manufacturing workers for getting paid too much.

Huffington Post

This, of course, is contrary to bivariate findings presented in Table 3 that reveal significant differences between palliative and non-palliative patients in number of nights spent in hospital and number of hours of home support received.

BMC Palliative Care

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "courses contrary to", ensure the context clearly indicates what the courses are in opposition to. This helps avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "courses contrary to" when simply describing alternatives. This phrase implies active opposition, not just a different approach.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "courses contrary to" functions as a modifier, describing a set of actions or approaches that are in opposition to something else. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. The provided examples show its use in describing policies, beliefs, and guidelines.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "courses contrary to" is used to describe actions or strategies that oppose or contradict something else. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct, but it is considered rare. It appears most often in News & Media and scientific contexts. To improve clarity, ensure the context clearly states what the courses are in opposition to, and avoid using it simply to describe alternatives. Instead, use alternative such as "actions opposed to" or "measures against" when needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

methods contrary to

Similar to QUERY but uses "methods" instead of "courses".

actions opposed to

Focuses on the opposition of actions rather than a course of action.

measures against

Highlights specific actions taken to counter something.

policies conflicting with

Specifically refers to policies that are in disagreement.

approaches diverging from

Emphasizes the difference in method or strategy.

strategies at odds with

Highlights the incompatibility between strategies.

practices clashing with

Focuses on the conflict between established practices.

steps in opposition to

Emphasizes actions taken to oppose a specific thing.

paths conflicting with

Emphasizes the difference in pathways or directions.

decisions that contradict

Highlights decisions that are in opposition to something else.

FAQs

How can I use "courses contrary to" in a sentence?

You can use "courses contrary to" to describe actions or plans that go against established rules, norms, or expectations. For example: "The new regulations implement "courses contrary to" the previous guidelines set by the organization."

What's a simpler way to say "courses contrary to"?

Alternatives include "actions opposed to" or "measures against", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it better to use "contrary to" at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence?

The placement depends on what you want to emphasize. Starting with "contrary to" highlights the opposition, while placing it in the middle can provide a smoother flow. For example: "Contrary to popular belief, the policy was effective" versus "The policy, contrary to popular belief, was effective."

What's the difference between "courses contrary to" and "different courses"?

"Courses contrary to" implies a direct opposition or conflict with something, while "different courses" simply suggests alternative options or approaches without necessarily being in opposition. The former indicates active resistance, the latter just divergence.