prove the contrary

USAGE SUMMARY

"prove the contrary" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to challenge someone to prove that something goes against the thing you are asserting. For example, "I think that humans are not the only species capable of language, but you'll need to prove the contrary to make me reconsider my opinion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

Every time I thought I now knew Jack, something would prove the contrary.

The New York Times - Arts

They thought themselves eternal; but a bomb manufactured in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was to prove the contrary in 1943".

The New York Times - Books

I hope the BBC doesn't think that the failure of Outcasts is proof that UK science fiction doesn't work, we have a huge legacy to prove the contrary.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

To prove the contrary I could present the long list of black leaders in the New Nation who have objected to these remarks, but I really don't need to.

The Guardian - Opinion

"The permanent difficulty with this argument is that you can never prove the contrary," said Mark Heller, a senior researcher at the Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University.

The New York Times

That panel would consider if either sides had acted "in good faith" in refusing to agree an end to the backstop – but adds that it would be difficult to prove the contrary.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

Carlos Saura's flamenco trilogy—"Blood Wedding" (1981), "Carmen" (1983), and "Love the Magician" (1986)—proves the contrary.

The New Yorker

Carlos Saura's flamenco trilogy — "Blood Wedding" (1981), "Carmen" (1983), and "Love the Magician" (1986) — proves the contrary.

The New Yorker

At trial, if petitioner makes a prima facie showing that he has in fact been prejudiced by the State's delay, I would then shift to the State the burden of proving the contrary.

Cornell University

But he warned people not to lash out so harshly, quoting the French writer George Bernanos: "The intellectual is so often an imbecile that we should always take him for one until he proves the contrary".

The Guardian

While many voices have ignorantly dismissed Islam – and indeed all religion – as an embodiment of ignorance, my two students are proving the contrary, as are Muslim intellectuals throughout the world.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "prove the contrary", ensure you have credible evidence or a logical argument to support your challenge to the existing statement. Provide verifiable facts to strengthen your counter-argument.

Common error

Avoid using "prove the contrary" when you only have circumstantial evidence or a weak argument. A lack of conclusive proof undermines your statement and weakens your credibility. A stronger, but potentially more accurate alternative in this case might be "suggest the contrary".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prove the contrary" functions as a challenge or request for evidence to refute a statement. It implies a skeptical stance and prompts for verifiable information or logical arguments to support an opposing view. Ludwig examples show that is used in various contexts like news and media, science and academia.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "prove the contrary" serves as a call to action, urging someone to provide evidence that opposes a claim. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. Usage is considered uncommon and spans across news, science, and academic contexts. To ensure effective communication, remember to provide strong evidence when using this phrase, and avoid overstating the strength of your proof. Alternatives like "demonstrate the opposite" and "establish the antithesis" offer nuanced options for expressing similar ideas. Overall, the phrase is a valuable tool for fostering critical thinking and intellectual discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

demonstrate the opposite

Focuses on showing the reverse to be true.

establish the antithesis

Highlights setting up a direct contrast as a proven fact.

validate the reverse

Emphasizes the process of confirming that the opposite is valid.

substantiate the contradiction

Highlights providing evidence for a confliction in facts.

confirm the refutation

Focuses on providing affirmation that the original statement has been proven wrong.

verify the alternative

Highlights a comparison to validate another option.

evidence the falsehood

Emphasizes showing evidence to demonstrate that a statement or belief is not correct.

validate the falsity

Focuses on confirmation that something is not true.

prove otherwise

A more concise way of asking someone to challenge an assertion.

disprove the claim

Directly challenges someone to invalidate the original statement.

FAQs

How can I use "prove the contrary" in a sentence?

You can use "prove the contrary" when you want someone to provide evidence that something is false or incorrect, for example: "I believe that climate change is not a hoax, but I am open to anyone who can "prove the contrary"".

What's the difference between "prove the contrary" and "prove the opposite"?

"Prove the contrary" is a more general phrase that calls for evidence against a statement, while "prove the opposite" implies that there's a direct alternative to be demonstrated. For example, instead of ""prove the contrary"" you might say "demonstrate the opposite".

Which is more formal: "prove the contrary" or "disprove the claim"?

"Prove the contrary" is generally considered neutral to formal, while "disprove the claim" can lean towards informal depending on the setting. However, both phrases are widely understood and usable in most contexts.

What phrases are semantically similar to "prove the contrary"?

Alternatives include "demonstrate the opposite", "establish the antithesis", or "substantiate the contradiction", each carrying nuances in meaning and implication.