not the contrary

USAGE SUMMARY

"not the contrary" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that the opposite of something is not true. For example: "We appreciate your hard work, not the contrary."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

The term 'great', therefore, is not the contrary of the term 'small', nor 'much' of 'little'little

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And so artificial evacuations, if they consist of such matters as should be evacuated, do good, and are well borne; but if not, the contrary.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"We should say that trials are open and that it's up to minors to request an exception, and not the contrary".

The New York Times

Viewed in this light, one would think that many institutional investors would be emotionally biased against activist investors and in favor of management's typically longer-term program, not the contrary as believed by most managements and boards.

Harvard University

2. In disorders of the bowels and vomitings, occurring spontaneously, if the matters purged be such as ought to be purged, they do good, and are well borne; but if not, the contrary.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Since circular motion is not the contrary of the reverse circular motion, we must consider why there is more than one motion, though we have to pursue our inquiries at a distance-a distance created not so much by our spatial position as by the fact that our senses enable us to perceive very few of the attributes of the heavenly bodies.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

532], is not to the contrary.

Harvard University

Rep. 482, is not to the contrary.

Cornell University

71, is not to the contrary.

Cornell University

That is not arbitrary quite the contrary.

Harvard University

Sedima and Agency Holding are not to the contrary.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "not the contrary" to clearly negate an opposing idea, especially when emphasizing a specific point that needs clarification. This phrase is particularly useful in formal writing and debates where precision is crucial.

Common error

Avoid using "not the contrary" when a simpler negation would suffice. Overusing this phrase can make your writing sound overly formal or convoluted. Ensure that the context truly benefits from the emphatic negation it provides.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not the contrary" functions as a negating expression. It serves to explicitly deny an opposing statement or idea. Ludwig examples show it is frequently found where a potential alternative or misunderstanding needs to be directly addressed. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Academia

40%

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not the contrary" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, highlighting its role in negating opposing ideas. Although it's not an incredibly common phrase, with examples across academic, news, and scientific domains, it is employed to explicitly refute an alternative and emphasize a specific point. Remember to use it judiciously, ensuring that the context genuinely benefits from its emphatic negation. While there may be other simpler phrases available, "not the contrary" can offer a unique sense of explicitness that other terms lack.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the opposite is not true

Clearly expresses that the contrary situation is false.

not vice versa

Implies that the reciprocal relationship is not valid.

not the inverse

Similar to "not the contrary", but uses the term 'inverse'.

it's not the reverse

Directly states that the opposite scenario does not apply.

the reverse is not the case

Emphasizes that the opposite situation is not valid.

it's not the other way around

Indicates that the causation or relationship is not in the opposite direction.

the contrary isn't so

A more emphatic way of stating that the opposite is not true.

on the other hand, not

Emphasizes a contrasting point that is not the case.

it's not the flip side

Suggests that the alternative perspective is not applicable.

conversely, not

Highlights that the inverse situation is not true.

FAQs

How can I use "not the contrary" in a sentence?

Use "not the contrary" to emphasize that the opposite of a statement is not true. For example: "The evidence suggests improvement, "not the contrary"."

What's a simpler alternative to "not the contrary"?

Alternatives include phrases like "not the opposite", "not the reverse", or simply restating the intended meaning with a direct negation.

Is it redundant to use "not the contrary"?

While it can sometimes be replaced with simpler phrases, "not the contrary" is useful when you want to explicitly refute a potential misunderstanding or an opposing viewpoint.

When is "not the contrary" most appropriate?

This phrase is most appropriate in formal writing, legal contexts, or situations where you need to ensure there is no ambiguity about your negation.