inversely

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "inversely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is the opposite of another thing, or when one thing is proportional to another thing, but in the opposite direction. Example: "As the hours went on, the temperature outside decreased inversely with the rise of the moon."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

While it is not true in general that improbable evidence has more confirming potential, it is true that E's incremental confirming power relative to H varies inversely with E's unconditional probability when the value of the inverse probability PH(E) is held fixed.

SEP

The quality of life is inversely related to population density, and Australia has indeed been the luckiest of countries in this regard.

The Economist

But there is an interesting twist.Gregory Paul, an independent researcher on evolution, and Phil Zuckerman, a sociologist at Pitzer College in California, have argued controversially that a belief in God is inversely correlated with the level of what might be described as the intensity of the struggle for existence.

The Economist

This radiation is inversely related to a particle's mass and, since protons weigh 1,836 times as much as electrons, radiative losses are far greater for electrons than protons.

The Economist

In some cases their merits are inversely proportional: consider Ukraine, with its thuggish president, Viktor Yanukovych, and its plucky citizens, freezing for democracy in the streets of Kiev, even though nine years ago they went to the trouble of having a revolution to keep the same man out of office.

The Economist

AS A rule in the European Union, the grandeur of somebody's office is inversely related to the sexiness of their work.

The Economist

Archbishop Curtiss believes that there "are as many vocations today as there have ever been", but that "the number of vocations a diocese will receive is inversely linked to how liberal [in terms of Catholic doctrine] that diocese has become".Such language scares many on the left in America.

The Economist

The first is that high share and bond prices imply low yields (the two are inversely related).

The Economist

In general, as you might expect, a country's belief in evolution is inversely correlated with its belief in God.

The Economist

First, by buying gilts with remaining maturities between five and 25 years from institutional investors like insurance companies, the central bank pushes up their prices and thus drives down their yields, which are inversely related.

The Economist

The same thing happened and, moreover, the amount of grimacing the animals showed was inversely related to the concentration of the steroids.The question remained of whether the mice were actually feeling less pain, a phenomenon called stress-induced analgesia, or just masking it better in the presence of men.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "inversely", ensure the relationship you're describing is truly inverse; one quantity increases as the other decreases proportionally. Avoid using it loosely to mean merely 'opposite'.

Common error

Avoid using "inversely" when a simple "opposite" or "contrary" would suffice. "Inversely" implies a quantitative relationship, not just a qualitative difference.

Linguistic Context

The adverb "inversely" primarily functions to modify verbs or clauses, indicating that the relationship between two quantities is such that as one increases, the other decreases. Ludwig AI confirms that it serves to describe the nature of this proportional relationship.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverb "inversely" is a useful word for describing relationships where two quantities change in opposite directions. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and frequently used in academic and scientific contexts. Remember that it implies a specific, proportional relationship, not just a general opposite effect. While synonyms like "conversely" or "reciprocally" can sometimes be used, "inversely" is most appropriate when quantifying the relationship. Pay attention to contexts, and ensure you’re describing a true inverse proportion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in inverse proportion

More explicitly states the mathematical relationship, suitable for technical contexts.

conversely

Introduces a statement that reverses the previous one, indicating a reciprocal relationship.

reciprocally

Implies a mutual or interchangeable relationship, similar to "inversely" but emphasizes the exchange.

in reverse order

Specifies the order of elements, emphasizing a backward sequence rather than a proportional relationship.

in an opposite manner

Focuses on the contrasting behavior or method, not necessarily a mathematical correlation.

by contrast

Emphasizes a notable difference or dissimilarity between two things.

the other way around

Offers a less formal way to express a reversal of order or direction.

in a contrary fashion

Highlights the oppositional nature of the action or situation, without implying proportionality.

on the other hand

Presents an opposing viewpoint or consideration, often in a discussion or argument.

in opposition

Indicates a direct conflict or antagonism, not necessarily a proportional change.

FAQs

How is "inversely" used in a sentence?

Use "inversely" to show that two quantities change in opposite directions, like, "The price of the product varies "inversely" with its availability".

What does "inversely proportional" mean?

"Inversely proportional" indicates that as one quantity increases, the other decreases by a constant factor. For instance, speed and travel time are "inversely" proportional when distance is constant.

What words can I use instead of "inversely"?

Depending on the context, you can use "conversely", "in reverse order", or "reciprocally". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you intend to convey.

Is it correct to say something is "inversely related"?

Yes, "inversely related" is grammatically correct. It means that there's a relationship between two things where an increase in one results in a decrease in the other, and vice versa.