it says contrary to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it says contrary to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used when indicating that something contradicts or opposes another statement or idea, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "The report states that the findings are inconclusive, which says contrary to the previous conclusions drawn by the researchers."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It says, "Contrary to fanciful allegations in a recent best-selling novel, this is not a vestige of a pagan temple".

The New York Times

(At Year 2, it says: "Contrary to what most un-widowed people think, the second year can often be more difficult than the first. There are no more first holidays and first anniversaries to conquer. This is often a time when you begin to deal with the reality of life without your spouse").

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Now it said: Contrary to earlier expectations of growth in second half revenue, the company has experienced a general softening of demand across all sectors as well as delays in specific project timelines, which does not include our largest customer.

The Guardian - Business

But UKBA relocations were separating women from specialist treatment and monitoring, it said, contrary to National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence guidance.

BBC

However, a male friend from Derby says, contrary to my thesis, leopardskin is good news.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The reopening of the galleries is an apt occasion to ponder not how we ought to view and think about Oceanic art but how we actually do experience it, which is to say — contrary to ideologically one-sided accounts favored at different points in history — complexly.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's symmetrical and egalitarian," the team's statement said, "contrary to conventional backdoor access where one party generally abuses the other".

Vice

It has been reported that financial difficulties are behind the decision but both websites say: "Contrary to the rumours going around, Scipmylo has not gone bust".

The Guardian

The WEF said, contrary to earlier reports, Brown would not be paid for his new role, but it would provide him with staff.

The Guardian - Business

I said, "Contrary to what you might think, I'm not an A.T.M".

The New York Times

The next day he found a note saying: "Contrary to popular opinion, milk is not fattening.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

For clarity, replace the phrase "it says contrary to" with stronger and more direct alternatives like "it contradicts" or "it refutes". This enhances the impact and avoids awkward phrasing.

Common error

Do not use "it says contrary to" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives such as "it contradicts" or "it states the opposite" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it says contrary to" attempts to introduce a statement that opposes or contradicts a previous one. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrasing is not standard in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it says contrary to" is used to indicate a contradiction or opposition, but Ludwig AI identifies it as non-standard English. It appears mainly in news and media contexts but is infrequent and considered grammatically incorrect. For improved clarity and impact, it's best to use alternatives such as "it contradicts" or "it reports in contradiction of". This enhances the writing quality and avoids awkward phrasing, maintaining a more professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it contradicts

Condenses the phrase to simply "it contradicts", making a direct statement of opposition.

it reports in contradiction of

Uses "reports in contradiction of", offering a more formal way to express disagreement.

it states in contrast to

Replaces "says" with "states" and "contrary to" with "in contrast to" for a more formal tone.

it asserts in opposition to

Substitutes "says" with "asserts" and "contrary to" with "in opposition to", emphasizing a stronger disagreement.

it claims counter to

Uses "claims" instead of "says" and "counter to" in place of "contrary to", suggesting a dispute.

it refutes the idea that

Uses "it refutes the idea that", directly challenging a specific idea.

it indicates differently from

Replaces "says contrary to" with "indicates differently from", highlighting a difference in information.

it suggests the opposite of

Employs "suggests the opposite of" to replace "says contrary to", directly stating an opposing viewpoint.

it argues against

Replaces the entire phrase with "it argues against", simplifying the expression to focus on the opposing argument.

it disproves

Shortens the statement to "it disproves", implying a definitive rejection of a claim.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "it says contrary to"?

You can use alternatives like "it contradicts", "it states in contrast to", or "it argues against" depending on the context.

Is "it says contrary to" grammatically correct?

No, "it says contrary to" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. It's better to use more precise and clear alternatives like "it contradicts" or "it reports in contradiction of".

How can I use "it contradicts" in a sentence?

You can use "it contradicts" to indicate disagreement or opposition, for example: "The new evidence it contradicts the initial findings of the study".

What's the difference between "it says contrary to" and "it states the opposite"?

"It states the opposite" is a clearer and more direct way of saying that something disagrees with a previous statement. "It says contrary to" is considered awkward phrasing and should be avoided. Use "it states the opposite" for better clarity.