opposing to

USAGE SUMMARY

"opposing to" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when one thing is in opposition to another. For example, "I am strongly opposing to the proposed change in the company's policy."

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

In addition, the Monmouth County Freeholders and several towns have passed resolutions opposing to the plan.

The New York Times

Surowiecki discusses Citigroup's settlement with the Justice Department, and Cobb talks about the role of racism in opposing to President Obama.

The New Yorker

Palin's opposing to abortion rights even in cases of rape and incest had zero support among the women, and they generally felt her speech was without substance.

The Guardian - Opinion

When Bob took the entire free software model and considered it alongside the entire proprietary software model, they looked utterly opposing to and in conflict with one another.

Harvard Business Review

If allowed another vote on the negotiated deal, the prime minister needs to swing at least 75 MPs from opposing to supporting her plan.

The Washington Post

The editorial reads: "Our latest summer story represents an opposing to ideal of beauty altogether, with masked poolside models set out to soak up as little sun as possible.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

As opposed to what?

The New York Times

"As opposed to in America".

The New Yorker

You're opposed to academies.

The Guardian

He is opposed to them.

The New York Times

It is opposed to Isis.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "opposing to" is understandable, use the more grammatically sound alternative "opposed to" for increased clarity and professionalism in writing.

Common error

Avoid using "opposing to" when you mean "opposed to." "Opposing" typically describes something that is actively resisting, while "opposed" describes a state of disagreement or resistance. For example, use "opposed to the plan" rather than "opposing to the plan."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "opposing to" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating disagreement or resistance. However, it's often considered grammatically awkward and less precise than alternatives. Ludwig shows examples where it's used, but also highlights the availability of better options.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "opposing to" is used to express disagreement or resistance. However, Ludwig indicates that while understandable, it is often considered grammatically awkward and less precise than alternatives like "opposed to". Its communicative purpose is to convey a stance against something, and its use is generally discouraged in formal and professional contexts. News & Media and Science are the most frequent contexts. It's important to remember that the authoritative sources indicate that "opposed to" is generally a better choice than "opposing to".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opposed to

Slightly more formal and grammatically standard, implying direct resistance or disagreement.

against

A simpler and more direct way to express disagreement or resistance.

in opposition to

More formal, indicating a state of being against something.

contrary to

Indicates a direct contradiction or conflict with something.

resistant to

Suggests active resistance and unwillingness to accept something.

averse to

Implies a strong dislike or reluctance towards something.

conflicting with

Indicates a clash or disagreement between two things.

at odds with

Expresses a state of disagreement or incompatibility.

antagonistic to

Indicates hostility or active opposition towards something.

clashing with

Implies a forceful disagreement or conflict.

FAQs

What's a more grammatically correct alternative to "opposing to"?

The preferred alternative is "opposed to". This phrase is widely accepted and considered grammatically correct.

When is it appropriate to use "opposing" instead of "opposing to"?

"Opposing" should be used when describing something actively resisting or competing. For example, "the opposing team" or "opposing viewpoints." It should not be followed directly by "to".

Is there a subtle difference in meaning between "opposing to" and "against"?

While both express disagreement, "against" is more direct and general, while "opposing to" (though less preferred) implies more active resistance. However, "opposed to" is generally a better choice than "opposing to".

How can I avoid using "opposing to" in my writing?

Rephrase your sentence using alternatives like "opposed to", "in opposition to", or "contrary to" depending on the specific context you are trying to convey.