overturn conventional wisdom

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overturn conventional wisdom" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing ideas, theories, or beliefs that challenge or contradict widely accepted views or assumptions. Example: "The new research findings aim to overturn conventional wisdom about the effectiveness of traditional teaching methods."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

A Colom match could overturn conventional wisdom about the nationality, class, religion, and motives of the man who began the age of American colonization.

The New York Times

Stephen Brooks and William Wohlforth overturn conventional wisdom by showing that in a unipolar system, where the United States is dominant in the scales of world power, the constraints featured in international relations theory are generally inapplicable.

Princeton University

Along the way we overturn conventional wisdom about strategic planning, the scientific method, creativity, imagination, rational decision making, teamwork, leadership, innovation, brainstorming, and the divide between the "hard" and "soft" skills of science and art.

Columbia University

Less than half a teaspoon of fat is all that it takes to turn someone into a type-2 diabetic according to a study that could overturn conventional wisdom on a disease affecting nearly 3 million people in Britain.

Independent

Warren cited her own work as an example of how NSF-funded research can overturn conventional wisdom and give policymakers fresh insights on important societal issues.

Science Magazine

Thus Equation 1, as used in (Bushdid et al., 2014), provides no insight into the lower bound for z, with a lower bound being required to overturn conventional wisdom about the number of discriminable stimuli.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Throughout human history, the people who have done the most to change the world have been the ones who overturned conventional wisdom, so we should not be afraid to welcome into our communities those who challenge our thinking.

Harvard University

We'll discuss insights from the latest research from Aral and his co-researchers Soroush Vosoughi and Deb Roy of the MIT Media Lab which overturns conventional wisdom about how misinformation spreads, what causes it to spread so fast, and who or what is spreading it.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Benvenisti relishes overturning conventional wisdom.

The Guardian

"Empire of Guns" aims to overturn the conventional wisdom about the role of firearms in the world's economic development.

The New York Times

It can also give companies the confidence to overturn wrongheaded conventional wisdom and the faulty business intuition that even seasoned executives can display.

Harvard Business Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overturn conventional wisdom" to introduce groundbreaking findings or perspectives that challenge long-held beliefs in a specific field. For instance, "The study aims to "overturn conventional wisdom" in cancer research."

Common error

Avoid using "overturn conventional wisdom" when the evidence is preliminary or not yet widely accepted. Reserve it for situations where there is substantial and compelling evidence to challenge existing beliefs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overturn conventional wisdom" functions as a verb phrase that describes the action of refuting or disproving widely accepted beliefs. As supported by Ludwig AI, it's used to highlight significant challenges to established ideas. This often appears in academic or news contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

40%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "overturn conventional wisdom" is a powerful tool for describing the refutation of established beliefs, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is most commonly found in academic, news, and scientific contexts, signaling a significant shift in understanding. While grammatically correct and widely understandable, it's best reserved for situations where substantial evidence supports the challenge to existing beliefs. Alternatives such as "challenge accepted beliefs" or "refute established ideas" may be more appropriate when the evidence is less conclusive. Overall, "overturn conventional wisdom" is a valuable phrase for highlighting transformative impacts in various fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

challenge accepted beliefs

Focuses on the act of challenging rather than completely overturning.

refute established ideas

Emphasizes proving something wrong through argument or evidence.

dispute common assumptions

Highlights the act of questioning and arguing against assumptions.

reject traditional views

Indicates a dismissal of established viewpoints.

defy popular opinion

Suggests a bold opposition to what most people believe.

subvert prevailing thought

Emphasizes undermining and destabilizing dominant ways of thinking.

rethink accepted norms

Focuses on the process of re-evaluating and changing established norms.

question established doctrines

Highlights the act of doubting and scrutinizing established teachings or beliefs.

invalidate prevailing wisdom

Suggests proving that the commonly held belief is no longer valid or accurate.

debunk popular myths

Focuses on exposing the falseness of widely held but untrue beliefs.

FAQs

How can I use "overturn conventional wisdom" in a sentence?

You can use "overturn conventional wisdom" to describe situations where new evidence or perspectives challenge or contradict established beliefs. For instance: "The new research findings aim to "overturn conventional wisdom" about the effectiveness of traditional teaching methods."

What are some alternatives to "overturn conventional wisdom"?

Some alternatives include "challenge accepted beliefs", "refute established ideas", or "dispute common assumptions", depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "overturn conventional wisdom" in formal writing?

Yes, "overturn conventional wisdom" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in academic, scientific, or professional contexts where challenging established ideas is common. However, ensure the evidence supports the claim.

What is the difference between "challenge conventional wisdom" and "overturn conventional wisdom"?

"Challenge conventional wisdom" implies questioning or disputing established beliefs, while "overturn conventional wisdom" suggests a more complete refutation or replacement of those beliefs with new understanding. The latter implies stronger evidence.