driven by contrary

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "driven by contrary" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a concept of being motivated or influenced by opposing forces or ideas, but it lacks clarity and context. Example: "His actions were often driven by contrary opinions, leading to confusion among his peers."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Married for 12 years, with time taken away by war and now with three small children, they fret in a tacky house in Westport, Conn., driven by contrary social aspirations and not enough money to enjoy any of it.

The New York Times - Arts

The upshot is a fairly pathetic picture of a life mired in the passions and pursuing and fleeing the changeable and fleeting objects that occasion them: "We are driven about in many ways by external causes, and … like waves on the sea, driven by contrary winds, we toss about, not knowing our outcome and fate" (IIIp59s).

SEP

Pliny states that in the reign of the Emperor Claudius in 47 CE: :"Annius Plocamus, a freedman, having farmed the customs of the Red Sea, was, while sailing along the coast of Arabia over fifteen days, driven by contrary winds into Hippuros, a port of Taprobane, where he was entertained with kindly hospitality by the king.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Instead, it is driven by concerns that, contrary to guidance given to police, they are being used to deal with serious offences and repeat offenders, says our correspondent.

BBC

Shen Dao dismisses the possibility that the ministers will be driven by moral commitment; on the contrary, such exceptional individuals should not be employed at all.

SEP

On the contrary, LFPs driven by pure chromatic contrast responded equally well to all phase combinations (Fig. 2 e, f).

Cerebral Cortex

To the contrary, Margaret Thatcher was driven by a belief in the kind of society she conceived Britain to be.

The Guardian

Parlour Song is not propelled by an original idea: on the contrary, it's driven by the dull notion that the suburbs are always seething with unfulfilment.

The Guardian

The backbeat of the new movie is driven by an insistence that the Beatles, contrary to popular lore (and to the bragging of Rolling Stones fans), found their greatness as a live band.

The New Yorker

In this model tdTomato reporter gene is driven by CSC specific (ALDH1A1) promoter and contrary to other similar models, CSC differentiation and un-differentiation processes are not restrained and longitudinal studies are feasible.

Nanomedicine: Nanotechnology, Biology and Medicine

Genes related to fertility and/or sensory perception may have been driven by accelerated evolution in humans, but, contrary to Clark et al. [ 5], we did not find in the human branch such acceleration of the FOXI1 gene, which is involved in the function of the ear, testis, and kidney [ 8].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the grammatically questionable phrase "driven by contrary", consider using more precise and grammatically sound alternatives like "motivated by opposing forces" or "influenced by conflicting views" to convey your intended meaning with clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "driven by contrary" if you intend to express the idea of being motivated by opposing forces or conflicting ideas. This phrase is not commonly recognized in standard English and can lead to confusion. Always opt for clearer and more widely accepted expressions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "driven by contrary" is a verb phrase functioning as a modifier. It aims to describe something being motivated or influenced by opposing or conflicting elements, which Ludwig AI flags as potentially unclear in standard English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "driven by contrary" is identified by Ludwig AI as grammatically questionable and not conveying a clear meaning in standard English. While it appears in various contexts like news, science, and encyclopedia sources, its usage is rare, with only three exact examples found. For clarity and grammatical correctness, it is recommended to use alternative phrases such as "motivated by opposing forces" or "influenced by conflicting views". These alternatives more accurately and effectively convey the intended meaning of being moved or influenced by opposing elements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

motivated by opposing forces

Focuses on the active motivation stemming from conflicting forces rather than a passive driving.

influenced by conflicting views

Highlights the impact of different viewpoints on someone's actions or decisions.

guided by opposing principles

Emphasizes the role of conflicting moral or ethical guidelines.

torn between conflicting desires

Captures the internal struggle caused by incompatible wants or needs.

subject to contradictory impulses

Highlights the experience of being acted upon by internal, opposing urges.

pulled in opposite directions

Emphasizes a state of being pulled by different needs or goals.

affected by contrary opinions

Focuses on how differing opinions influence an individual.

led by conflicting beliefs

Stresses the guiding nature of incompatible beliefs.

constrained by opposing demands

Highlights the limiting effect of conflicting requirements.

propelled by contrasting ideals

Emphasizes the driving force of differing and competing ideals.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "driven by contrary" to improve clarity?

To enhance clarity, replace "driven by contrary" with alternatives like "motivated by opposing forces", "influenced by conflicting views", or "guided by opposing principles" depending on the specific context you want to convey.

What is a more grammatically correct substitute for "driven by contrary"?

Since "driven by contrary" is not grammatically sound, consider using phrases such as "subject to contradictory impulses" or "pulled in opposite directions" to express the idea of internal conflict or opposing influences.

Is "driven by contrary" considered standard English?

No, "driven by contrary" is not considered standard English and may not be easily understood. It's better to use more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "affected by contrary opinions" or "led by conflicting beliefs".

When is it appropriate to use a phrase like "driven by contrary"?

Given that "driven by contrary" is not standard, it is generally not appropriate to use it in formal or professional writing. Instead, opt for more precise and conventional alternatives that accurately convey the intended meaning, such as "constrained by opposing demands" or "propelled by contrasting ideals".