ostensibly contradictory

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ostensibly contradictory" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that appears to be contradictory on the surface but may not be upon closer examination. Example: "The politician's statements were ostensibly contradictory, yet they revealed a deeper strategy when analyzed further."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

But behind that notion, when applied specifically to manuscripts or books, two further, ostensibly contradictory meanings lurk.

The New York Times - Books

If the typical American interaction involves an ostensibly contradictory mixture of the formal (politeness), the casual and the cordial, what happens when one moves beyond the transactional?

The New York Times - Books

Establishing which of these ostensibly contradictory hypotheses (i.e., sensory-motor vs. sociocultural experience) is most potent may be possible by investigating the developmental characteristics of space-time mappings [44], or by examining whether contrasting patterns in language (e.g., Aymara vs. English) are also revealed in strictly non-linguistic domains (e.g., movement dynamics).

Plosone

These ostensibly contradictory aims, or conflicting approaches, could prove problematic if a teacher was unable to strike a balance between authenticity and emotion control.

Australian Educational Researcher

The ostensibly contradictory results found in our clinical analysis versus those of our in vivo analyses suggest that E-cadherin may have a dual role in cancer progression.

Cancer Medicine

Ostensibly contradictory paradigms, such as cognitive science and sociocultural theories, are compatible within an overall complexity stance, as individual, social and environmental aspects of learning can be viewed as different layers, or dimensions, of an open and dynamic system (Bleakley 2010).

Advances in Health Sciences Education

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Militia commander Abdelkerim (Abel Jafri) is himself a contradictory figure, enforcing a draconian law, but ostensibly coming across as a mild-mannered, long-suffering type, taking sneaky puffs of cigarette on the quiet.

The Guardian - Film

Kennett therein explains, in a sometimes dubious Freudian context, why the ostensibly modest Sherman spoke and acted in such a self-serving, contradictory and often childish fashion, and why he turned cold and uncaring to his family and friends during their deepest personal crises and losses.

The New York Times - Books

Ostensibly this aids transparency.

The Economist

His teammates, ostensibly.

The New York Times - Magazine

The commission is ostensibly independent.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ostensibly contradictory" when you want to suggest that something appears to be contradictory at first glance, but may not be upon closer inspection or with additional context. It implies a degree of skepticism or a need for further analysis.

Common error

Avoid using "ostensibly contradictory" when you mean to express a direct and obvious contradiction without any room for interpretation. In such cases, simply use "contradictory" without the "ostensibly" modifier.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ostensibly contradictory" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that something appears to be contradictory but might not actually be so upon closer inspection. As confirmed by Ludwig, this use aligns with standard English grammar.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

38%

News & Media

38%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

12%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "ostensibly contradictory" is a grammatically correct and usable adjective phrase that describes something that appears contradictory on the surface but might not be upon further examination. As Ludwig confirms, it is acceptable for use in formal and informal contexts. The phrase is most commonly found in scientific and news media sources, suggesting its utility in analytical and descriptive writing. When using this phrase, remember that it indicates a superficial contradiction that requires further analysis, and consider alternatives like "apparently conflicting" or "seemingly paradoxical" to fine-tune your meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

apparently conflicting

Replaces "contradictory" with "conflicting" and "ostensibly" with "apparently", focusing on the surface-level disagreement.

seemingly paradoxical

Substitutes "ostensibly" with "seemingly" and "contradictory" with "paradoxical", highlighting the apparent self-contradictory nature.

superficially inconsistent

Replaces "ostensibly" with "superficially" and "contradictory" with "inconsistent", emphasizing a lack of harmony at first glance.

ostensibly paradoxical

Replaces "contradictory" with "paradoxical", focusing on the self-contradictory nature.

apparently inconsistent

Substitutes "ostensibly" with "apparently" and "contradictory" with "inconsistent", indicating a perceived lack of alignment.

outwardly conflicting

Replaces "ostensibly" with "outwardly" and "contradictory" with "conflicting", highlighting the external appearance of disagreement.

ostensibly conflicting

Replaces "contradictory" with "conflicting", highlighting the surface level disagreement.

seemingly conflicting

Substitutes "ostensibly" with "seemingly" and "contradictory" with "conflicting", focusing on the initial perception of disagreement.

apparently paradoxical

Replaces "ostensibly" with "apparently" and "contradictory" with "paradoxical", focusing on the perceived self-contradictory statement.

ostensibly divergent

Replaces "contradictory" with "divergent", highlighting a difference in direction or opinion that may not be truly contradictory.

FAQs

How can I use "ostensibly contradictory" in a sentence?

Use "ostensibly contradictory" to describe situations where two things appear to conflict on the surface, but might not actually be in opposition upon closer examination. For example: "The politician's statements were "ostensibly contradictory", yet they revealed a deeper strategy when analyzed further."

What are some alternatives to "ostensibly contradictory"?

You can use alternatives like "apparently conflicting", "seemingly paradoxical", or "superficially inconsistent" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "ostensibly contradictory" in formal writing?

Yes, "ostensibly contradictory" is appropriate for formal writing as it is grammatically correct and conveys a specific meaning related to apparent contradictions. Ludwig confirms this as well.

What's the difference between "ostensibly contradictory" and "contradictory"?

"Ostensibly contradictory" suggests an apparent contradiction that may not be real, while "contradictory" implies a direct and definitive opposition. "Ostensibly" adds a layer of perceived or superficial conflict.