in a contrary way

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in a contrary way" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or opinion that opposes or contradicts something else. Example: "While many believe that the new policy will improve efficiency, I argue it will, in a contrary way, create more confusion among employees."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

He suggested that "no one should now be surprised" if the Florida Legislature seeks to challenge the court by restating state election law in a contrary way.

The New York Times

"Anything you say, you should assume he is going to read and is going to react to it in a contrary way," said a psychologist who specializes in extreme criminal behavior and works for a major metropolitan police department.

The New York Times

Meanwhile, though, in a contrary way, we have come upon a topic of first importance in the making of a piece of writing: its frame of reference, the things and people you choose to allude to in order to advance its comprehensibility.

The New Yorker

This implies that SNHs with large holes show higher (weaker) light absorption in the short-wavelength (long-wavelength) region, while SNHs with smaller holes behave in a contrary way.

Nanoscale Research Letters

This includes developing methods for AI to assess a situation and determine on its own whether it will "follow" an "order/command" from a human or determine that it is in the AI-enhanced robot's "best interest" to disregard the prompt and act in a contrary way.

TechCrunch

If you promote yourself as a good person, but then get called out for behaving in a contrary way, you're not as advertised -- people lose faith.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

This level was chosen because it was comfortably above the average 2.5 times by which acknowledged leaders such as 3M, Boeing, Coca-Cola, General Electric and Wal-Mart had outperformed the market from 1985 to 2000.In a contrary way, Mr Collins and his team of researchers came up with a list of nine things that they had not found in their winning companies.

The Economist

The hydroxylation of Au3+ species thus determines the size distribution of AuNPs at room temperature in a quite contrary way as compared to high temperature reactions.

Nanoscale Research Letters

"To straighten a bent stick," Michel de Montaigne wrote, "we bend it in the contrary way".

The New York Times

"Nina 'the Prodigy,' " a suite of dances choreographed by Kevin Joseph to a beautifully chosen selection of songs sung by Nina Simone, not only paid tribute to the singer but made it newly clear what an exceptional artist she was in her poignantly contrary way.

The New York Times - Arts

It makes its way into the prose poem "Métropolitain", which records the view from the window of the recently opened Metropolitan line train and which, in its typically contrary way, demonstrates his affection: "sheets of fog spread out in ghastly layers in the sky... formed of the most sinister black smoke that the Ocean in mourning can produce".

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "in a contrary way" to clearly indicate that an action, opinion, or result is the opposite of what is expected or has been previously stated.

Common error

Avoid using "in a contrary way" when a simple negation would suffice. For example, instead of saying "it did not happen in a contrary way", use "it happened as expected" or "it happened normally".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in a contrary way" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate how an action is performed or a state exists. It expresses that something is done or happens in opposition or contradiction to something else, as supported by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

26%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in a contrary way" functions as an adverbial phrase to indicate that something occurs in opposition or contradiction to what is expected. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for expressing contrast. While found across various contexts, it appears most frequently in News & Media. Alternative phrases such as "conversely" or "in an opposite manner" can provide similar meanings. Although correct, be mindful of overuse and consider whether a simpler negation might be more effective for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in an opposite manner

Emphasizes the direct opposition of actions or ideas.

in a conflicting style

Highlights the incompatibility or clash between different approaches.

conversely

A concise adverb to introduce a statement that reverses the previous one.

on the flip side

An informal way to introduce an opposing perspective.

in reverse fashion

Implies a reversal of the typical or expected order or method.

in a diametrically opposed way

Highlights the complete opposition between two things.

in contradiction to

Directly states that something goes against another.

in opposition to

Emphasizes the act of being against something.

to the contrary

A shorter, more formal way of expressing opposition.

on the other hand

Introduces an alternative or opposing viewpoint for balanced consideration.

FAQs

How can I use "in a contrary way" in a sentence?

Use "in a contrary way" to show that something happens or is done in opposition to what is usual or expected. For example: "The market reacted "in a contrary way" to the news, declining instead of rising."

What's a more formal alternative to "in a contrary way"?

More formal alternatives include "conversely" or "to the contrary". These options are suitable for academic or professional writing.

Is it always necessary to use "in a contrary way", or can I simplify the sentence?

Sometimes, simplifying the sentence with a direct opposite or negation can be more effective. Instead of "The results were achieved "in a contrary way"", you might say "The results were achieved unexpectedly".

Can "in a contrary way" be used to describe a person's behavior?

Yes, it can describe behavior that goes against expectations or norms. For instance: "He acted "in a contrary way", agreeing when everyone else disagreed."