or inversely

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "or inversely" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a reverse relationship or opposite effect between two concepts or variables. Example: "The temperature can affect the pressure of a gas, or inversely, the pressure can also influence the temperature."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The electrical nature of a material is characterized by its conductivity (or, inversely, its resistivity) and its dielectric constant, and coefficients that indicate the rates of change of these with temperature, frequency at which measurement is made, and so on.

Britannica

The system of gravitational field equations (Equation 135) defined for the ansatz (Equation 136) can be solved in general form if there are given certain values of functions g1 x1,x2)(or, inversely, g2 x1,x2)), h3(x i,v) (or, inversely, h4(x i,v)) and of sources ϒ1 x1,v2,v )and ϒ3 x1,x2).

Mathematical Sciences

How much of you is in Frank, or, inversely, how much of Frank is in you?

The New Yorker

Research shows grit is usually unrelated or inversely related to talent.

The Washington Post

Or, inversely, they were the high water marks of the Great Unknown, the Eternal Other.

The New York Times

It is concluded from the summary that the design parameters directly or inversely affect the outlet temperature.

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews

For most (16 out of 20) response variables, plans ranked either directly or inversely to the extent of even-aged management.

Forest Ecology and Management

The SOM analysis indicated that a number of drill and blast design parameters were directly or inversely correlated to material recovery at the Ridgeway SLC operation.

International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences

HTCs are also more likely to be located in remaining "remote areas", or inversely related to the patterns of urban density.

Applied Geography

Tumor necrosis factor α was directly correlated with dietary protein and energy intake; no other cytokines were directly or inversely correlated with intake.

Journal of Renal Nutrition

(C) The cytokine analysis separated samples along LV1 in terms of a linear combination of cytokines that correlate (positive values) or inversely correlate (negative values) with the hypoxia+bFGF condition.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "or inversely" to clearly indicate a reverse relationship between two elements, ensuring that the reader understands the contrasting effect. For example: "Increased effort leads to better results, or inversely, decreased effort leads to poorer results."

Common error

Avoid using "or inversely" when the relationship isn't a direct reversal. Ensure the second part genuinely represents the opposite effect of the first. For example, don't say "He enjoys reading, or inversely, he likes sports" because liking sports isn't necessarily the opposite of enjoying reading.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "or inversely" functions as an adverbial phrase, serving to introduce an inverse relationship or contrasting perspective. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively highlights the opposite effect or direction of a previously mentioned concept.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

68%

News & Media

25%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the adverbial phrase "or inversely" effectively signals a reversed relationship or contrasting perspective. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English. While suitable for both formal and informal contexts, it is particularly useful in scientific and technical writing to clarify implications by presenting reverse scenarios. When using "or inversely", ensure the relationship is a direct reversal and consider alternatives like "conversely" or "vice versa" to enhance clarity and avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conversely

A more formal synonym, suitable for academic or professional contexts.

vice versa

Indicates that the two parts of a statement can be interchanged.

in reverse

Emphasizes the reversal of order or direction.

the other way around

A more informal way of expressing the same concept.

on the contrary

Highlights a direct opposition or contrast.

by contrast

Introduces a statement that contrasts with a previous one.

in opposition

Highlights a relationship of direct opposition.

contrariwise

A somewhat archaic but precise synonym for conversely.

backwards

Focuses on the reversal of a process or direction.

the inverse

Refers specifically to the mathematical or logical inverse.

FAQs

How can I use "or inversely" in a sentence?

Use "or inversely" to show a reverse relationship between two elements. For example: "Higher demand increases prices, or inversely, lower demand decreases prices."

What are some alternatives to "or inversely"?

You can use phrases like "conversely", "vice versa", or "the other way around" depending on the context.

Is "or inversely" formal or informal?

"Or inversely" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "conversely" might be preferred in academic or professional writing.

What's the difference between "or inversely" and "or vice versa"?

"Or inversely" explicitly indicates a reverse relationship, while "vice versa" implies that two parts of a statement are interchangeable. "Or inversely" is often used when one part is the cause and the other is the effect.